The pearl under the P is the only actual possible indicator of forgery (casting) that you have identified, the rest of what you have identified as suspicious isn't suspicious at all. The
style and edge are perfectly normal. The
portrait is normal (especially for
Elagabalus). The surfaces, including the damage do not indicate forgery in any way. In fact, all aspects of this coin other than that little pearl strongly suggest it is genuine. That little pearl could mean it is cast or it could be a genuine coin struck with a small die flaw. Which is more likely? Although we do not authenticate coins here, I believe it is most likely genuine.
Now for a little lesson on authentication... You identify the pearl as a indicator of forgery (and it is possibly a valid indicator of a cast
fake). But then you talk about the
portrait being unusual. Unusual
style, however, is not an
indicator of casting, it is an indicator of false modern dies. So which is that you suspect? A cast
fake or a
fake struck with modern dies? You should have some logical explanation of why you think it is
fake. Combining the indicators of two different
types of
fakes does not usually make sense.
Fake Coins and Notorious Fake Sellers
