Claudius I As Minerva, fake or imitation?

[Sergio Orata]

The coin should be a Hispanic minted As of Claudius I

Obv: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR IMP, bare head left
Rev: S-C, Minerva with spear and shield
RIC 100
Weight: 10.2g
Diameter: 28mm


I own this coin since a while and feel concern about authenticity due to the uncommon style in the inscription, a 0º axis and the smashed letters at the end of the inscription at …TR P IMP. On the rest the coin looks genuine, plain field, no bubbles, pearls or sewing mark and the patina appears natural. I shared the pictures at the Spanish forum but no consensus has yet been achieved. Perhaps someone here can put some light on the issue in deciding whether it should be in a fake report or in a genuine list.

Thank you!!

[Joe Sermarini]

Probably an ancient imitation.

[Dominic T]

Did you check on Ac Search to compare ? Some of the examples there were mint in Iberia and have the same style as yours, some have the same die axis too. I have to admit the lettering look odd to me.
DT

[Sergio Orata]

Probably an ancient imitation.

Did you check on Ac Search to compare ? Some of the examples there were mint in Iberia and have the same style as yours, some have the same die axis too. I have to admit the lettering look odd to me.
DT

Thanks!!

I’m checking on Ac Search and also checked at Forgery Network. The figures are within the style of some other reported Minervas minted in Hispania, but the lettering is bizarre even compared with the fake examples. There were so many issues of Claudius bronze coins in those times in Hispania. Some as forgeries and some due to liquidity shortages, so there may be hundreds of non matching cases. Anyway, I have no intention on changing or selling it so I do have time to wait if a clone appears. Unfortunately I do not have nearby a specialised ancient numismatic shop for verification in the flesh. But certainly will try doing so on any future trip.

Meanwhile, I will upload to the barbaric forgeries gallery and perhaps someone can put some light on it.

Best,
Pepe.

[PMah]

The photos are a bit soft-focus, so it is a bit hard to see, but the coin seems pretty typical of the wide range of these provincial copies.  The lettering problem looks like it might be caused by rough cleaning or an attempt to use a tool on it.