FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board

Resources => Fake Coins and Notorious Fake Sellers => Topic started by: Ron C2 on June 24, 2021, 06:22:04 pm

Title: Pretty badly tooled denarius
Post by: Ron C2 on June 24, 2021, 06:22:04 pm
This one for sale by a well known seller.  Such a shame, very obviously tooled - and poorly done at that.  It's too bad, because even in fair condition this is a really rare issue - now it's just another tooled coin.  Pretty obvious around the obverse legend, but I suspect both legends are touched up.

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/51928/normal_tg8C9XTmH5eD7BLyoiT4HZ3cpPn2Jf.jpg)
Title: Re: Pretty badly tooled denarius
Post by: antesignanvm on June 25, 2021, 04:10:43 am
I don't think it is tooled, there are many scratches on it but I doubt they are due a bad cleaning because are on all the surface.
Title: Re: Pretty badly tooled denarius
Post by: SC on June 25, 2021, 07:47:24 am
Bad cleaning that just happens to make the letters way more visible than they were.  Hmmm.

I suspect that the actual surface was removed/lowered to make the letters look like that.

It may be technicality, but to me that it the distinction.  Removal of stuff above the original surface is cleaning - alteration of the original surface/metal is tooling.  And I think this one crosses the line, or at minimum is sitting on the fence having a laugh at us all.

SC
Title: Re: Pretty badly tooled denarius
Post by: djmacdo on June 25, 2021, 12:02:06 pm
To me it appears as if the fields have been clumsily scraped.  I doubt there there is any original surface left on this coin.
Title: Re: Pretty badly tooled denarius
Post by: Ron C2 on June 25, 2021, 01:15:22 pm
There is likely some original surface in the low points of the portraits, but I generally agree with your diagnosis.
Title: Re: Pretty badly tooled denarius
Post by: paps on June 29, 2021, 08:31:58 am
Quote
...have been clumsily scraped.
I agree. Cleaning can be a long and tedious process. Looks like this one was done by a real amateur. This is a Caracalla that took weeks to clean.