vespasian?

[coindoctor]

Does anyone have an opinion regarding the authenticity of this coin?

[curtislclay]

Looks authentic to me.  Do you suspect otherwise?

[Scipio Helveticus]

What are those marks in between the busts of titus and Domitian?

[coindoctor]

The fields look a little granular to me. I don't have the coin in hand to look at closer. The marks on the reverse you refer to are purported to be EPE designating the minting in Ephesus. I haven't found a reference to this coin but quite a few Vespasian denarii where made there. If authentic this would be a rare coin I believe but I don't have RIC for this period.

[David Atherton]

Looks ok to me as well. A scarce issue from Ephesus (BMCRE 455) , this coin usually is quite expensive.

The surface does look a bit granular, possibly from cleaning.

[bpmurphy]

It's a cast forgery. There have been several of these around in recent years.

Barry Murphy

[bpmurphy]

Just found these photos on my computer.

Barry

[David Atherton]

Thanks Barry!

Without the previous fake specimens, the coin is quite convincing in the photo.

[maridvnvm]

I noticed that the coin has been withdrawn from sale.
Regards,
Martin

[coindoctor]

Thank you all for your information

[ROMA]

This is a convincing forgery. Some cast denarii ive seen lately have been pretty good, like this one. Makes me weary  to buy online

[David Atherton]

Buying ancient coins on ebay is a tricky business. This coin is a good example why. A photograph by itself cannot condemn nor authenticate a coin. If it wasn't for the previous cast fakes provided by Barry of this coin, would this coin have been discovered as a fake?

I think in hand it would be very apparent something is wrong with it, but the photograph alone is very deceptive.

Even good sellers make mistakes.