Lawrence's 1883 book on the subject is available online (text). It clearly explains several points of interest but when dies
still exist, anything is possible. If certainly explains how an
electrotype looking nicer than any copy (or any original) could exist. I took particular interest in the mention that original Cavino strikes are often poorly alloyed.
http://www.archive.org/stream/medalsbygiovanni00lawriala/medalsbygiovanni00lawriala_djvu.txtquoted from the above:
One hundred and twenty-two of Cavino's dies have been pre-
served and are at present in the Bibliotheque Nationale at
Paris.
They were brought from
Italy in the seventeenth century by Th.
Lecomte, who obtained them from the Lazzara family of Padua,
and who bequeathed them to the Abbey of Sainte Genevieve in
1670. They are described and illustrated by Claude du Molinet
in
his work, entitled : Le Cabirlet de la Bibliotheque de Sainte
Genevieve.
Paris, 1692, f
.....
The "
Paduan " is usually too round and regular, and the
flan is too
thin ; the dots of the
border or engrailment are large and in irreg-
ular relief ; the letters are flat and square, especially N ; M is
broad at the base and narrow at the top ; H and D are square and
heavy, and A and V are too narrow and
sharp. The coins struck by
Cavino himself (the dies were used after
his death) are usually
composed of
red and yellow copper, poorly alloyed.
.....
56.
M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXIX.
Bust of M.
Aurelius r.,
laureate, in
cuirass and
paludamentum.
Rev. IMP VII COS- III.
Victory seated r. on
shield,
holding
palm, and on her knees a
shield inscribed
VIC ' AVG.;
in front,
trophy.
Medallion. Imitation of a genuine
medallion. Montigny, 52.
Cohen,
II., p. 503, No. 367. Cavino
engraved two
obverse dies for this
medal,
which differ but slightly in workmanship.
Fake Coins and Notorious Fake Sellers
