Dear Board,
Working through my bags of miscellaneous coins today, I came across a very early purchase from I first started collecting
ancient coins. It was bought from a collector that used to clean coins and sell them and
still has active websites on
numismatics.
The
coin flip insert says it was a
Spintria of
Antinous, with 4
satyrs on the
reverse. I am not familiar with such a coin. It appears more likely
roman provincial to me, at least on the
obverse. On the
obverse I make out in the
legend: AVC.......... - B(or E)IA...
It is not a coin I would have bought today without lots of homework (i.e. coin of
Antinous, or a
spintria). It appears suspect to me. Although it could pass for a very worn coin and even has what appears to be green spots of
patina remnants, the edge, for the most
part, has that rounded smooth appearance of those coins with filed seams that have been sanded down but leaving a faint colour variation in the middle where that seam was. I have attached photos.
I would be grateful for opinions on my assessment, as well as any information on what the coin is likely a
cast copy of (or whether it is simply a fantasy coin), so that I can lodge a detailed
fake coin report.
Peter
Fake Coins and Notorious Fake Sellers
