Fake Ancient Greek Coins: Archaic and Classical
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Thrace, Hemidrachm, Chersonesos1 viewsThrace, Hemidrachm, Chersonesos, c. 386-368 BC, AR
Forepart of lion r. with head turned back, Rv. Incuse quadripartite square pentagramm and pellet in square, monogr. and pellet in other square.
Sold and declared as counterfeit by the seller on xianyu
Many identical molds, very good technology, difficult to distinguishZheng J
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4 viewsAR Obol & Diobol
Head of nymph Larissa?, 3/4 facing, slightly left, wearing pendant earring, pearl necklace, and an ampyx in her hair; border of dots.
ΛΑΡ-ΙΣA-Ι-ΩΝ, Thessalian cavalryman riding right on prancing horse, wearing chlamys and petasos, and holding a curved whip (staff). Unlisted with pearl necklac
0.87g, 12mm, 1h.
Ref: Unlisted Obv. Die with pearl necklace; Herrmann p. 42 and pl. VI, 1 var.; Herrmann Group VII 1 Series B pl. VI (pl-v-19), 1 var.
cast made from a Slavey replica
Jay GT4
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Lokri Opuntii AR Stater (c. 26 mm), c. 360-350 BCE, depicting the famous hero Ajax. Modern Fake.10 viewsPROTOTYPE:
Lokris, Lokri Opuntii AR Stater (c. 26 mm), c. 360-350 BCE.
Obv: Wreathed head of Demeter to left, wearing pearl necklace and triple-pendant earring.
Rev: ΟΠΟΝ (left, upward) ΤΙΩΝ (right, curving downward). Ajax, nude but for crested Corinthian helmet, advancing right, holding sword and shield; broken spear between feet (?).
Ref: For original, cf. BCD Lokris-Phokis 93 or 97 (but no control symbol). Apparently not among the modern fakes and reproductions published in NAC 55 (8 Oct 2010, BCD Lokris-Phokis).
Prov: Reported to social media twice (12 Oct & 15 Oct 2023), using the current sale photo for an active group lot. No measurements were given but based on the known diameters of the other coins (all of which were modern), this one must be about 26mm.
Ajax is a classic hero in the great epic myth told by Homer, The Iliad. He appears in particularly dramatic martial form on the original prototypes, which are always of great interest to collectors of Greek mythological coins. A type in constant demand from beginners and connoisseurs alike -- making it equally appealing as a target for the forger.Curtis JJ
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Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm (5th cent. Classical / Transitional)15 viewsAttica, Athens forgery tetradrachm.
Apparently imitating a Classical, possibly Transitional ("Starr Group") or Eastern style owl.
Reported measurements: 17.01g, 24mm.
(Die axis appears roughly 6h in photo?)
Obv: Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three olive leaves above visor and spiral palmette on bowl, round earring with central boss and pearl necklace.
Rev: Owl standing to right with head facing, olive sprig and crescent behind, ΑΘΕ to right; all within incuse square.
This forgery type (identical dies/centering) first reported by helvetica in 2016: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/displayimage.php?pid=17721
This specimen discussed 24 Sep 2023 in Discussion (including original, unedited photos): https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=132406.msgCurtis JJ
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Apollonia Pontica, Thrace, c. 519 - 480 B.C., Silver Dracm9 viewsApollonia Pontica, Thrace, c. 519 - 480 B.C.
Silver drachm, cf. SNG Stancomb 31, SNG Ruse p. 36, HGC 3.2 1321-2, VF, toned, edge cracks, weight 2.593g, maximum diameter 13.2mm, c. 519 - 480 B.C.; obverse inverted anchor, crayfish right; reverse incuse square with cross pattern
Condemned as a forgery by NGCJoe Sermarini
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Pharsalos, Thessaly, Greece, 424 - 404 B.C., Beirut forgery6 viewsPharsalos, Thessaly, Greece, 424 - 404 B.C., Beirut forgery
Silver hemidrachm, BCD Thessaly II 655, HGC 4 634 (S), 2.202g, 17.1mm, 0o, Pharsalos (Farsala, Greece) mint, 424 - 404 B.C.
Obverse head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet with raised cheek-piece, adorned with scrolls and olive twigs
Reverse ΦPΣA, horse's head and neck right, head turned slightly facing, concave field
Beirut forgeryJoe Sermarini
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Athens Tetradrachm Old Style10 viewsANCIENT GREEK COIN ATTICA ATHENS OWL SILVER TETRADRACHM CA 450 BC 26mm 16.9gr
26.3mm, 16.9 grJoe Sermarini
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28 viewsC. 470-440 BC
Obverse: Eagle standing left.
Reverse: Crab.
Ref: Randazzo 13
Weight: 16.82g
Size: 26mm
Comments: There seems to be only one obverse die with the claws of the eagle exactly like this one in Ulla Westermark, "The Coinage of Akragas and this is O10.
This is a problem, because the N is recut wrong in the transfer die and so different on the authentic coins!
The wrong recut N only found on the transfer die fakes :(
The surface are unusual and soapy indicating it could be a cast fake.
There are unusual artifacts on the obverse and reverse, and are not found on authentic coins so they must be either die flaws in the transfer dies or casting defects or lumps. The weight is slightly lower than is typically found. There are no remnant/evidence of casting sprues typically found on these coins.
paul1888
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Fake crab with TY above3 views"CARIA - Uncertain (B.C. 410-380)"
Head of Helios (?) facing, turned slightly to the left.
TY above crab.
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This was offered to a coin dealer friend together with a number of other extremely convincing (but known) fakes.
The letters TY on their own were used on coins of
- Himera, Sicily (SNG Lewis 309 and Kraay, Himera p. 13 Rooster left/Hen right)
- Stymphalos, Arcadia (SNG Delepierre 2321, Head of Herakles/head of bird right)
There is also a coin with TYMNO from Termera, Caria, but all the known coins from there were quite poorly made and always had Herakles kneeling right on the obverse.
Motya (Sicily) struck coins with the head of Arethusa facing/Crab but all have the city name, usually in Punic beneath the crab. This type is apparently the closest "pattern" possible.
It is a well-made fake, and it is a puzzle why the faker added TY, thus making it so obviously different. Perhaps they were his own initials ... helvetica
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Lydia, Croesus, 561 -564 BC AV 1/12 stater7 viewsLydia, Croesus, 561 -564 BC AV 1/12 stater
Condemned by NGCKath D2
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Sicily Syracuse tetradrachm - Quadriga and head of Arethusa22 viewsWeight 17.34 gr.
Fast quadriga with charioteer - head of Arethusa left with tresses fly back.
Coin sold on Ebay on June 2022 for 3400 euro. Dies not present in Fisher Bossert or Tudeer. Very similar to another specimen on forgerynetwork (http://forgerynetwork.com/asset.aspx?id=HO7Z2YNRT2A=)
This coin is a pressed forgery as evident also for the cracks on the edges.Cliff
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Thrace - Macedonia 4th c. BC, Bergaios15 viewsReplica of silver stater attributed to the king of Thrace Bergaios, circa 350 BC.
Diameter: 14-15 mm, Weight: circa 3 grNikitas K
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APOLLONIA PONTICA, THRACE26 viewsAR Drachm
Obv: Gorgoneion facing
Rev: Anchor, A, Crayfish
Identified as fakes by auction house.Tyler L2
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Derrones (Thraco-Macedonian Tribe)8 viewsDodekadrachm?
Obv: OPPEΞ (retrograde inscription). Hermes bearded, naked, driving two oxen in harness right, holding in right hand caduceus, and the left set on the ox.
Rev: Incuse square divided into four parts.
34 mm; 19.35 gm
Modern cast forgeryKamnaskires
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Aegina Silver Stater - Turtle / Incuse Punch22 viewsAegina Silver Stater - Turtle / Incuse Punch
A convincing cast fake, known to be fake only from IDENTICAL copies from multiple sellers including NFSL saxbys-coins and coinauction12.
18.0 mm, 9.66 gJoe Sermarini
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54 viewsCast fake of Tarsos stater. Depicts Pharnabazos as Ares on obverse, and Arethusa on the reverse. Cast marks are especially prevalent on the reverse, obverse die match with ebay fake.Ryan L
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Tarsos Cilicia Stater24 viewsCast fake of a SNG France 251, Stater of Tarsos, 378-377/374-373 BCE, depicting Pharnabazos as Ares on the obverse, Baal seated on the reverse.
Cast marks are prevalent especially on the obverse and casting pearls are prevalent on the reverse. Style of the lettering is off as well.Ryan L
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Neapolis, Macedon, AR Hemidrachm19 viewsObv. Facing gorgoneion with protruding tongue.
Rev. Hd. of nymph r.
Circa 424-350 BC
Cast fake.
Sold on ebay by numismatics.888 in October 2021maridvnvm
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THRACE, Black Sea Area. Cherronesos.8 viewsAR Hemidrachm. Circa 350-300 BC.
Obv. Forepart of lion right, head reverted.
Rev. Quadripartite incuse square; Bee in one quadrant, pellet and monogram A in opposite quadrant
Cast fake.
Sold on ebay by numismatics.888 in October 2021maridvnvm
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THRACE, Black Sea Area. Cherronesos.9 viewsAR Hemidrachm. Circa 350-300 BC.
Obv. Forepart of lion right, head reverted.
Rev. Quadripartite incuse square; Grapes in one quadrant, pellet and monogram A in opposite quadrant
Cast fake.
Sold on ebay by numismatics.888 in October 2021maridvnvm
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Islands off Thrace, Thasos AR Diobol. Circa 412-404 BC6 viewsObv:- Janiform heads of two satyrs
Rev:- Two amphorae, the left inverted, Θ-A-Σ-I around, within shallow incuse square.
Le Rider, Thasiennes 25; SNG Copenhagen 1027-8; HGC 6, 348
Cast fake.
Sold on ebay by numismatics.888 in October 2021maridvnvm
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Thasos, Stater6 viewsAR Stater,
Obv.: Satyr advancing right, carrying protesting nymph;
Rev.: Quadripartite incuse
Cast fake.
Sold on ebay by numismatics.888 in October 2021maridvnvm
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THRACE, Black Sea Area. Cherronesos.5 viewsAR Hemidrachm. Circa 350-300 BC.
Obv. Forepart of lion right, head reverted.
Rev. Quadripartite incuse square; Symbol in one quadrant, pellet and monogram E in opposite quadrant.
Cast fake.
Sold on ebay by numismatics.888 in October 2021maridvnvm
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Athens Tetradrachm British Museum Electrotype 54 viewsAthens Tetradrachm British Museum Electrotype
c. 480-400 BC, Attica Athens mint.
19th Century by Robert Ready or his sons.
(25mm, 16.95 g.)
Obv. Head of Athena
Rev. Owl and olive branch in incuse square.
Stamped BM monogram on reverse field.
Head, Guide Period II. B. 31, this is a copy of the illustrated original.Joe Sermarini
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