Dr. Ilya Prokopov's Fake Ancient Coin Reports
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Home > Fake Coin Study Images - Learn to Identify Fake Coins > Other Indications of Forgery

Elaboration.JPG
Additional2668 viewsSurface of a fake cast bronze coin - processed (elaboration) manually. Ilya Prokopov
Agrippa~0.jpg
Agrippa (Marcus Vipsanius 63 BC–12 BC)498 viewsAE As, 31mm, Rome, AD 37 - 41
Obv. M AGRIPPA L [F] COS III, head of Agrippa l., wearing rostral crown.
Rev. S / C Neptune stg. l., holding dolphin and trident.
With assistance of Alena Thenchova.
Sear 1812; RIC 58
Electrotype.
Ilya Prokopov
AthensT.jpg
Athens 460-404 BC.878 viewsAR Tetradrachm
Obv. Head of Athena r., wearing crested helmet decorated with three olive-leaves and floral scroll.
Rv. Α / Θ / Ε Owl standing, right, head facing, with spread tail feathers; olive sprig and crescent behind; all within incuse square.
Electrotype. Created by joining (glued) two halves together
Ilya Prokopov
AthensD.jpg
Athens 467-465 BC478 viewsAR dekadrachm,
Obv. Head of Athena r., wearing crested helmet ornamented with three olive-leaves and floral scroll.
Rev. Α / Θ / Ε Owl facing, wings spread; olive-twig in upper field to left; all within incuse square.
Electrotype: Created by joining (glued) two halves together; obv.: 6h, 7h, 11h – cracks on the edge of the kernel; rev.: 7h, 11h – small cracks on the edge of the kernel.
The same type: Sear 2516
The same rev. see: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/displayimage.php?album=10&pos=224
The same obv. and rev. see:
http://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/displayimage.php?album=10&pos=230
http://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/displayimage.php?album=10&pos=229
Inspection and observation are made in co-operation with my colleague Alena Tenchova.
Ilya Prokopov
PS001.jpg
Caracalla 198-217377 viewsAR Denarius.
Obv. IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG. Laur. and dr. bust. r.
This is an example of a fake coin made by casting two lamellas - obverse and reverse separately.Once polished they are fixed together and glued. The edge is masked by covering with tiny metal particles mixed with silicate materials. Here we can see the back of one such half where the solder holding the two parts is seen.
Ilya Prokopov
III-X.jpg
Comparison2262 viewsLeft: Roman provincial coin from 3rd c. Right: anonymous Byzantine coin from 11th c.
These coins are part of a shipment to the USA consisting of around 150 pieces. The cores are of the same metal. The primer applied on the core is similar in roughness and color. At spots where the artificial patina has fallen this reddish primer is seen, almost at all coins in this shipment.
I think it is impossible these coins if struck with a 700-800 years time difference to be from the same metal.
Ilya Prokopov
Poorly.JPG
Core333 viewsPoorly prepared core. Depth of penetration of the dies/matrix is not sufficient to remove defects. Ilya Prokopov
cut_and_paste_of_obverse_busts.jpg
Die Match to a Another Known Fake226 viewsCut and paste comparison die match verification. These two aurei share the same obverse die. If one is fake (which it is) the other is likely fake. Dies identical to a fake do not always mean another coin is fake. If the fake coin was cast in a mold made from a genuine coin or struck using transfer dies made from a genuine coin, a die matched coin could be genuine. If the fake was struck with modern engraved dies any other coin struck with those dies must also be fake. A die match to a fake is a significant cause for concern but not always certain evidence.mix_val
Electro.jpg
Electroplating350 viewsIndication of electroplating on a silver tetradrachm.
Ilya Prokopov
Pic393_c.jpg
Electrotype (Galvanocopy) Edge Seam With Fill of a Different Metal134 viewsPtolemaic bronze coin (AE32, 25.2gm). The is an electrotype (assembled from plated 'shell' halves, filled with lead or tin), possibly of a cast. It's unusual in that this 'size' for this type doesn't exist so the original is something of a mystery. And it's highly unusual to find a fake Ptolemaic bronze at all. It was probably an educational or museum study piece not intended to deceive.

Magnification of an area of the seam where separation is notable and there's some gray material between the edges of the seam
Joe Sermarini
DSC_4521.JPG
Electrotype (Galvanocopy) Edge Stamped GB183 viewsSome electrotype copies of coins from the British Museum and are marked GB on the edge. Joe Sermarini
hhh.jpg
Electrotype (Galvanocopy) Edge Stamped GB, MB, R, or RR. 121 viewsThese are electrotype copies of coins in the British Museum. They are sometimes sold as genuine. In particular, if you see a group of beautiful ancient silver coins sold as a bulk lot on eBay by a seemingly ignorant seller, suspect they are electrotypes. Electrotype fakes are near perfect copies on the obverse and reverse, but each side must be made separately and then joined. This creates an edge seem that is difficult to disguise. Also the weight is likely to be incorrect. The set in the photo is stamped GB on the edge. Others are known to have been stamped with MB, R, or RR. See the Fake Coin Edge Study Images for examples of electrotype (galvanocopy) fakes. Joe Sermarini
43558q00.jpg
Enna, Sicily. Duovirs L. Munatius and L. Cestius259 viewsFake dies, clearly overstruck on a genuine Antoninus Pius roman bronze!

FORVM AUCTIONS
Cast_GoldPlated.JPG
Gold plated227 viewsAV Double Stater of Alexander III - detail.
Silver cast and gold plated.
Ilya Prokopov
Byz2~0.jpg
Lysimachos (305-281 BC.) as the KING of THRACE. 576 viewsAR Tetradrachm, 16.426 g. Byzantion mint. 2nd-1st century BC.

Galvanoplastic copy, a precise repetition of the original coin. Published: Sofia 2007, p.17, no.23.
Ilya Prokopov
OldCore.jpg
On an old core132 viewsSestertus over an old coin. In this case of struck - are combined new dies and old kernel. Red lines - the level of the new depression after struck. Yellow lines - high edge over low relief after new/last struck.Ilya Prokopov
102_0658.JPG
Pantikapaion539 viewsAV Stater, obverse. If you note great number of illogical scratches on this and such like - this is an evidence for artificial wear.Ilya Prokopov
PhilipIII~0.jpg
Philip III Arrhidaios. 323-317 BC. KINGS of MACEDON. 566 viewsAR Tetradrachm, ‘Babylon’ mint. Struck under Perdikkas, circa 323-320 BC.
Obv. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin.
Rev. Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; M in left field, ΛY below throne.
Price P181; Müller P99.
Electrotype. Created by joining (glued) two halves together.
Ilya Prokopov
PhilipV.jpg
Philip V. 220-179 BC, KINGS of MACEDON622 viewsAR Didrachm. Struck 182-179 BC.
Obv. Diademed head right.
Rev. Club within wreath, one monogram above, two monograms below; star to left. McClean 3630var.
Electrotype. Created by joining (glued) two halves together.
Ilya Prokopov
glued~0.jpg
Sestertius271 viewsAE, glued from two parts.
Cast.
Ilya Prokopov
SyraDeca.jpg
Syracuse 405-380 c. B.C.350 viewsAR Decadrachm.
Obv. Fast quadriga driven l. by female charioteer leaning forward with kentron in r. hand and reins in l. hand, Nike above flying r. to crown her.
Rev. Head of Arethusa l. wearing barley wreath, scallop shell behind, four dolphins around.
Electrotype: Created by joining (glued) two halves together, can be seen filling that is not metal.
Ilya Prokopov
 
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