When I received my first Hypsaeus I was a little suspicious that it was
plated but preferred to consider it might be a ancient
Fouree. There was some minor sign of bubbles on the
obverse cheek. This is not the case with the three new pieces which I doubt I would suspect as single pieces. None of the other pieces show any sign of bubbles.
The other coins were identified by the dealer after I alerted him to the new Hypsaeus copy. He found the others in a large lot he
had acquired in
San Francisco in August. I arranged to buy them at cost after he showed them to
his supplier at the Long Beach show in September.
Studying them, they do not appear to be
plated although they must be. As a single piece I would definitely have no suspicions. Quite a concern. I've been collecting and studying
roman republicans for 30 years.
The
serrati are
very good forgeries but I did notice one characteristic which may be useful. On every piece the serrations are very crisp and clean. They look like they were done yesterday, which of course they were. The serrations are not so on any genuine pieces I have or have seen.
I will continue to stare at them all and add any other useful identifying features I find.