Dr. Ilya Prokopov's Fake Ancient Coin Reports
Forum Ancient Coins' Services for the Classical Numismatics Community

 


Category Albums Files
Fake Coin ReportsReports of modern replicas and forgeries of ancient coins submitted by FORVM's Classical Numismatic Discussion Board members. Please join our discussion board and report fake ancient coins here. FORVM recommends buying ancient coins only from reputable dealers. ALL COINS PURCHASED FROM FORVM ANCIENT COINS ARE GUARANTEED FOR ETERNITY. If you must purchase from an unknown seller, we recommend looking for the type here first. The search function may be useful for finding a specific ruler, city or type. FORVM will screen these reports and correct any errors we detect, however, any discussion board member may submit a report. It is possible that a genuine coin could be listed here in error. Except for known fraudulent regular sellers of fakes, do not include the names of sellers in reports. DO NOT POST COINS HERE TO ASK IF THEY ARE FAKE - USE THE DISCUSSION BOARD.
10 6863
Greek Archaic and Classical


ainos.JPG

1047 files, last one added on Jul 02, 2009

Hellenistic Period


Antiochus_VIII_and_Cleopatra_Thea.jpg

833 files, last one added on Jul 02, 2009

Celtic and Barbaric


ThasImit.jpg

185 files, last one added on Jun 29, 2009

Roman Republic


corufic.JPG

605 files, last one added on Jun 25, 2009

Roman Imperial


image00301.jpg

3756 files, last one added on Jul 02, 2009

Roman Provincial (Greek Imperial)


Gordian_Aphrodisias.JPG

125 files, last one added on Jul 02, 2009

Byzantine


Michael.jpg

108 files, last one added on Jun 21, 2009

Other


IvanAlexand.jpg

89 files, last one added on Jun 29, 2009

Stolen or Lost Coin Reports


025_Justinian_Tremissis.jpg

Report coins that have been lost or stolen here (not fakes). You must include your username in the description and explain the loss or theft. If you see a coin reported as lost or stolen, please inform the owner.

48 files, last one added on May 16, 2009

Modern Fake Dies


AgathoclesDie.jpg

67 files, last one added on May 05, 2009

10 albums on 1 page(s)

Study ImagesExamine these images and read the descriptions to learn how to identify modern forgeries of ancient coins. Discussion board members please add images of study value and describe the characteristics that indicate the coin is a fake.
10 451
Evidence of Casting (Type Originally Struck)


Otho~1.jpg

Pitting, filled cracks, field dips, edge seams, filing, soft features, lack of detail, ghost images...

65 files, last one added on Jun 18, 2009

Style Deviations


Gord_Medallion.jpg

Deviations from subtle to strange, forgers rarely get style right...

7 files, last one added on Oct 06, 2008

Evidence of Modern Tool Use to Cut Dies


sabina_brutal.jpg

Machine made dies...

18 files, last one added on May 13, 2009

Fabric Deviations


Julian 5.jpg

Wrong metal, wrong size, no edge cracks for a type that always has them, strange shape for the type...

11 files, last one added on Oct 22, 2007

Identifying the Work of Known Forgers


image00301~0.jpg

Slavey, Lipanoff, Becker, Christodoulos, the Black Sea hoard, the Toronto Group...

220 files, last one added on Jul 02, 2009

Other Indications of Forgery


102_0658.JPG

9 files, last one added on Apr 06, 2009

Tooling


PhilipLamps.JPG

A tooled coin is not a forgery, but it is a fake.

79 files, last one added on Jun 24, 2009

Artificial Patinas


MAvr1_oD.jpg

Not every coin with an artificial patina is a forgery, but it is an indicator. In any case an artificial patina is a fake patina.

30 files, last one added on Jan 28, 2009

Evidence of Pressing


PhilippDet3.jpg

Machine pressed vs. hand struck.

6 files, last one added on Jun 07, 2009

Fantasy Coins


Fantasy.jpg

Fantasy coins are modern creations made to look like ancient coins, but do not copy a type that actually exists.

6 files, last one added on Jan 04, 2009

10 albums on 1 page(s)

AntiquitiesA category showing fake small "antiquities".
2 9
Medieval


MCP13.JPG

7 files, last one added on Jul 01, 2009

Ancient


GoldNecklace1.JPG

2 files, last one added on Jul 01, 2009

2 albums on 1 page(s)

7323 files in 22 albums and 3 categories with 727 comments viewed 657535 times

Last additions
image00301~0.jpg
image00301~0.jpg[Becker] Crispus, Light Miliarense, Sirmium, c. 317. 0 viewsCrispus, Light Miliarense, Sirmium, c. 317. - Becker0 viewsObv:- D N CRISPVS NOB CAESAR Laureate and cuirassed bust of Crispus to right.
Rev:- FELICITAS ROMANORVM, Constantine standing left between two of his sons, the taller on his left being Crispus, all are in military dress and each holds a long scepter in his right hand, and rests his left hand on his waist; all under a curved arch supported by two columns.
Minted in Sirmium (SIRM in exe)
Ref.: Hill, Becker, 262.

Sold as a Becker reproduction by Jean Elsen for Eur 120 September 2008
Martin GriffithsJul 02, 2009
image00301.jpg
image00301.jpgCrispus, Light Miliarense, Sirmium, c. 317. - Becker0 viewsObv:- D N CRISPVS NOB CAESAR Laureate and cuirassed bust of Crispus to right.
Rev:- FELICITAS ROMANORVM, Constantine standing left between two of his sons, the taller on his left being Crispus, all are in military dress and each holds a long scepter in his right hand, and rests his left hand on his waist; all under a curved arch supported by two columns.
Minted in Sirmium (SIRM in exe)
Ref.: Hill, Becker, 262.

Sold as a Becker reproduction by Jean Elsen for Eur 120 September 2008
Martin GriffithsJul 02, 2009
Crispus_becker~0.jpg
Crispus_becker~0.jpg[Becker] - Crispus, Light Miliarense, Sirmium, c. 3170 viewsObv:- D N CRISPVS NOB CAESAR Laureate and cuirassed bust of Crispus to right.
Rev:- FELICITAS ROMANORVM, Constantine standing left between two of his sons, the taller on his left being Crispus, all are in military dress and each holds a long scepter in his right hand, and rests his left hand on his waist; all under a curved arch supported by two columns.
Minted in Sirmium (SIRM in exe)
Ref.: Hill, Becker, 262.

Sold as a Becker reproduction on ebay June 2009
Martin GriffithsJul 02, 2009
Crispus_becker.jpg
Crispus_becker.jpgCrispus, Light Miliarense, Sirmium, c. 317. - Becker1 viewsObv:- D N CRISPVS NOB CAESAR Laureate and cuirassed bust of Crispus to right.
Rev:- FELICITAS ROMANORVM, Constantine standing left between two of his sons, the taller on his left being Crispus, all are in military dress and each holds a long scepter in his right hand, and rests his left hand on his waist; all under a curved arch supported by two columns.
Minted in Sirmium (SIRM in exe)
Ref.: Hill, Becker, 262.

Sold as a Becker reproduction on ebay June 2009
Martin GriffithsJul 02, 2009
fausta_becker~0.jpg
fausta_becker~0.jpg[Becker] Fausta, AE3, RIC VII Sirmium 550 viewsObv:- FLAV MAX FAVSTA AVG, draped bust right
Rev:- SALVS REIPVBLICAE, Fausta Holding Sons,
RIC VII Sirmium 55
Ref:- Hill, Becker, 260.

Sold as a Becker reproduction on ebay June 2009
Martin GriffithsJul 02, 2009
fausta_becker.jpg
fausta_becker.jpgFausta, AE3, RIC VII Sirmium 55- Becker1 viewsObv:- FLAV MAX FAVSTA AVG, draped bust right
Rev:- SALVS REIPVBLICAE, Fausta Holding Sons,
RIC VII Sirmium 55
Ref:- Hill, Becker, 260.

Sold as a Becker reproduction on ebay June 2009
Martin GriffithsJul 02, 2009
fausta_becker_2~0.jpg
fausta_becker_2~0.jpg[Becker] Fausta, AE3, RIC VII Sirmium 550 viewsFausta, AE3, RIC VII Sirmium 55- Becker
Obv:- FLAV MAX FAVSTA AVG, draped bust right
Rev:- SALVS REIPVBLICAE, Fausta Holding Sons,
RIC VII Sirmium 55
Ref:- Hill, Becker, 260.

Sold as a Becker reproduction by Jean Elsen March 2009
Martin GriffithsJul 02, 2009
fausta_becker_2.jpg
fausta_becker_2.jpgFausta, AE3, RIC VII Sirmium 55- Becker0 viewsObv:- FLAV MAX FAVSTA AVG, draped bust right
Rev:- SALVS REIPVBLICAE, Fausta Holding Sons,
RIC VII Sirmium 55
Ref:- Hill, Becker, 260.

Sold as a Becker reproduction by Jean Elsen March 2009
Martin GriffithsJul 02, 2009
Postumus_oriens_quin~0.jpg
Postumus_oriens_quin~0.jpg[Becker] Postumus, Quinarius, ORIENS0 viewsObv:- POSTVMVS PIVS FELIX AVG, Laureate bust right
Rev:- ORIENS AVG, Sold standing head left, holding globe in left hand and raising right hand

Sold as a Becker reproduction by UBS Gold & Numismatics for equiv. US $88 January 2004
Martin GriffithsJul 02, 2009
Postumus_oriens_quin.jpg
Postumus_oriens_quin.jpgPostumus, Quinarius, ORIENS - Becker0 viewsObv:- POSTVMVS PIVS FELIX AVG, Laureate bust right
Rev:- ORIENS AVG, Sold standing head left, holding globe in left hand and raising right hand

Sold as a Becker reproduction by UBS Gold & Numismatics for equiv. US $88 January 2004
Martin GriffithsJul 02, 2009
Gordian_Aphrodisias.JPG
Gordian_Aphrodisias.JPGGordian III, CARIA, Aphrodisias. Æ 3 Assaria0 viewsObv:- Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
Rev:- Centaur standing right, holding bow and arrow.
MacDonald, Coinage, Type 184 (O232/R426); Weber 6407; SNG München -; SNG von Aulock 2462; SNG Copenhagen -.

Sold without warranty on ebay by trakart081, July 2009
Martin GriffithsJul 02, 2009
Antiochus_VIII_and_Cleopatra_Thea.jpg
Antiochus_VIII_and_Cleopatra_Thea.jpgCleopatra and Antiochos VIII, Seleukid, Silver tetradrachm0 viewsObv:- Conjoined bust of Cleopatra, veiled wearing diadem and stephanos, and Antiochos, diademed.
Rev:- Zeus seated left on throne holding Nike and scepter.

Modern cast fake
Martin GriffithsJul 02, 2009
ainos.JPG
ainos.JPGAinos 5 c.BC0 viewsAR Tetradrachm
Obv. Head of Hermes, r., wearing petasos.
Rev: AINI above goat walking right, all within incuse square, caduceus before.
Cast, "Dimitrovgrad Studio".
Ilya ProkopovJul 02, 2009
GoldNecklace1.JPG
GoldNecklace1.JPGGold Necklace 4 viewsA golden necklace offered to a client as genuine. Made from hollow glued female head (amazon) and 2 pendants, 4 beads and 2 rosettes. Many earrings and necklaces are made with these elements - heads and pendants, with various design, most often compiled.Ilya ProkopovJul 01, 2009
MCP13.JPG
MCP13.JPGCross pendant1 viewsMedieval bipartite cross pendant. Encolpion composed of two halves and hinged at the top and bottom. Cast, very massive fake patina.Ilya ProkopovJul 01, 2009
MCP12.JPG
MCP12.JPGEncolpion1 viewsMedieval bipartite cross pendant (the Virgin Mary-Orantha). Encolpion composed of two halves and hinged at the top and bottom. Cast, fake patina.Ilya ProkopovJul 01, 2009

 

   

 
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