I have uploaded a translation of
Svoronos' 1922
work on the
fakes of
Christodoulos.
http://www.snible.org/coins/christodoulos/I've also scanned and provided the plates. The plates contain 557 images of
fake coins.
Writing in
The Celator (August, 1994) Frank
Kovacs said "Unfortunately, the
quality of the photography gives a false impression of easily detected, somewhat naive
forgeries when, in fact, the actual products (artificially worn to EF, VF, and even to F condition and patinated) are considerably more convincing."
I'd love to be able to illustrate a few VF or F-condition specimens of this forger. If anyone has an old
Christodoulos in their black cabinet I'd love a photo or scan for the page. Feel free to contact me privately if necessary.
Christodoulos was apparently very skilled with false patinas. He managed to sell an Athenian
Dekadrachm to the British Museum! It wasn't exposed as
fake until
Svoronos published the dies.
Fake Coins and Notorious Fake Sellers
