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Author Topic: Fake Medusa??  (Read 982 times)

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Offline SRukke

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Fake Medusa??
« on: July 12, 2011, 10:20:01 pm »
Sellers description:

RARE ancient bronze ARETHUSA or MEDUSA Greek/Roman COIN
34 - 35mm (slightly uneven) diameter;
thickness on edge is about 3mm...at point of highest relief 6mm!
Weighs 20 grams.

Seller got angry with me when I questioned the authenticity of this item. Anyone know what it is or is supposed to be?

Offline curtislclay

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Re: Fake Medusa??
« Reply #1 on: July 12, 2011, 10:53:58 pm »
Definitely a modern fake, based on tetradrachms of Tarsus, see Sear Greek 2, pp. 513-4.
Curtis Clay

Offline commodus

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Re: Fake Medusa??
« Reply #2 on: July 13, 2011, 12:36:37 am »
Ah, that familiar cast tourist fake look. Can't miss it!
If he took exception, either the seller doesn't know anything about ancient coins or he's shady.
Eric Brock (1966 - 2011)

Offline rover1.3

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Re: Fake Medusa??
« Reply #3 on: July 13, 2011, 03:43:26 am »
That specific fake type is already listed in Fake Reports.
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/displayimage.php?pos=-1551

Always remember to check the Fake Reports!

Best regards,

rover


Offline commodus

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Re: Fake Medusa??
« Reply #4 on: July 13, 2011, 12:13:23 pm »
Yes, the type is listed, but not this example, so it would be appropriate to make a report on this coin as well, for study and comparison.
Eric Brock (1966 - 2011)

geezer

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Re: Fake Medusa??
« Reply #5 on: July 13, 2011, 01:55:04 pm »
I will be ending the eBay listing soon, as I am satisfied now, that is a fake. The originator of this
thread contacted me at first informing me simply that "This coin is a fake!" to which I responded
"That is a pretty harsh assessment to make without evidence! Do you have any evidence?"...
and I am satisfied, now, that we do.

I attempted to navigate this website doing my initial research on both fakes I have listed,
but should have registered in order to ask the questions I should have asked sooner.

I think I'll end my listing on the fake 'Justinian I' follis, as well, so it doesn't show up elsewhere,
next year. Thank you.

~Mark 'the geezer' (d/b/a 'marysbughouse')



Offline commodus

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Re: Fake Medusa??
« Reply #6 on: July 13, 2011, 02:10:17 pm »
An honest, fair, and honorable course of action!
Eric Brock (1966 - 2011)

Offline Joe Sermarini

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Re: Fake Medusa??
« Reply #7 on: July 14, 2011, 07:56:08 pm »
Fake coin report with these new pics please. 
Joseph Sermarini
Owner, President
FORVM ANCIENT COINS

geezer

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Re: Fake Medusa??
« Reply #8 on: July 14, 2011, 10:28:26 pm »
I am fairly certain this piece was cast before the late 1940's (it survived a Stockton, CA coin
shop fire, according to estate 'provenance') I wonder how many of these in bronze exist? Is
it possible it might be one of the 'masters' from which the silver fakes were cast (by lost-wax
method?) later?

I'm reluctant to throw this baby out with the bathwater, especially if it might shed light on
'more realistic' silver fakes it might have fathered? What say ye?

~Mark

Offline SRukke

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Re: Fake Medusa??
« Reply #9 on: July 14, 2011, 10:44:43 pm »

geezer

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Re: Fake Medusa??
« Reply #10 on: July 14, 2011, 10:50:08 pm »
Well, on second thought, let's not consider it an actual 'master',  but maybe a rejected
'master-woulda-been' that passed into the tourist trade? It's obviously not clean enough
to make a mold from, but may have been at one time?
 

Offline commodus

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Re: Fake Medusa??
« Reply #11 on: July 15, 2011, 12:21:47 am »
Tourist fakes like this have been around a long time. It is modern in the sense that it isn't ancient. I've seen similar looking casts dating from the period of WWI and on up, so a pre-1940s date could well fit, but it definitely looks like a 20th century production and not much earlier.
Eric Brock (1966 - 2011)

Offline areich

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Re: Fake Medusa??
« Reply #12 on: July 15, 2011, 04:05:19 am »
I wouldn't throw it away. If I were you, I'd put it back on Ebay with the proper description. It does look like an older fake and there are people who collect them. Or keep it as a souvenir or give it away to a kid.
Andreas Reich

Offline SRukke

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Re: Fake Medusa??
« Reply #13 on: July 15, 2011, 04:18:18 am »
If it's a fake of a real coin is the size and weight on or off?

Offline areich

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Re: Fake Medusa??
« Reply #14 on: July 15, 2011, 04:28:47 am »
It's the wrong metal so the weight is bound to be off but it doesn't really matter.
Also, if I'm not mistaken, it is a combination of two different types:

http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=13301

http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=14336

Anybody who uses weight to determine authenticity (i.e. knows correct weights) wouldn't need to in this case.
Andreas Reich

Offline SRukke

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Re: Fake Medusa??
« Reply #15 on: July 15, 2011, 04:48:35 am »
I agree. I was just curious if this was only struck in silver or bronze or if it was a fantasy piece. If a fake of a real coin I wondered if the size and weight were close. I started the thread based on the looks but then I saw it was 35mm which seemed really large but I'm not familiar with these at all.

Offline areich

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Re: Fake Medusa??
« Reply #16 on: July 15, 2011, 04:58:30 am »
I think they make them that size to impress tourists. It looks like a fantasy piece based on those two stater types, but enlarged, unless there is one that combines the two depictions. I don't think there is.
Andreas Reich

 

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