FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board

Resources => Fake Coins and Notorious Fake Sellers => Topic started by: IMPCAESAR on November 17, 2012, 08:13:27 am

Title: Gallienvs half aureus?
Post by: IMPCAESAR on November 17, 2012, 08:13:27 am
I offered this coin to potential buyer, but he said that his experts told him that coin is fake because there is no such coin in any book. I'm asking for your opinion.
Weight is 2.00 g
Title: Re: Gallienvs half aureus?
Post by: *Alex on November 17, 2012, 08:46:01 am
2.00gms would seem to be extremely light, especially for a gold coin. That is on average just over half the weight of a regular billon gallienus antoninianus. An aureus should weigh over 7.00gms and so a half aureus would be expected to weigh at least 3.5gms. You have not given the coin's dimensions, but if it really is gold then it must be extremely small.  :-\
Your coin looks like an antoninianus (a half-aureus or quinarius should be laureate) and that is what I think it is. Did you weigh the coin yourself, or were you told that it weighed 2.00gms by a third party?

Alex.
Title: Re: Gallienvs half aureus?
Post by: Pscipio on November 17, 2012, 08:56:13 am
It is hard to say without having it in hand but style and surfaces look ancient to me. The weight is not a problem, similar and eaven lighter specimens are known from Gallienus and Claudius II. They are extremely thin.

Lars
Title: Re: Gallienvs half aureus?
Post by: rick2 on November 17, 2012, 08:58:11 am
i d bet one denarius that the coin is actually an ant that has been gilded or gold plated
Title: Re: Gallienvs half aureus?
Post by: *Alex on November 17, 2012, 09:11:07 am
i d bet one denarius that the coin is actually an ant that has been gilded or gold plated

+++
Title: Re: Gallienvs half aureus?
Post by: Pekka K on November 17, 2012, 09:51:39 am

Yes, antoninianus: Göbl 1419i gilded or painted.

Pekka K
Title: Re: Gallienvs half aureus?
Post by: Pscipio on November 17, 2012, 10:04:05 am
Yes, MIR 1419i, known to Göbl in two specimens only. The plate coin is an obverse die match to the one shown here. I disagree that it necessarily has to be gilded, the flan shape is similar to other light weight gold coins of that time, and does not appear to be that of an antoninianus especially at 4- 8 o'clock. Gold is soft and with these very thin flans the edge often gets wavy in shape at that time, whereas the harder metal of an antoninianus would just crack - especially with a flan of this size but only 2 g. Also, with most of these very thin gold issues with radiate crown of the time, it is obvious that they were struck with regular antoninianus dies, see f.e. the unique gold coin of Aureolus, also many of Gallienus' and Claudius II.

So without seing the coin in flesh and confirming the metal, I would be reluctant in condemning it right away.

Lars
Title: Re: Gallienvs half aureus?
Post by: IMPCAESAR on November 17, 2012, 12:09:55 pm
*Alex - I weighted the coin, and scale showing 2.00-2.01 g. Diameter is approx. 19 mm, and yes it is very thin 0.5-0.8 mm.  Rick2 - I take your bet, and I put my unknown AE Follis in stake,on picture presented,  no problem. :)   Pekka K - are you sure?   Pscipio - you are true expert, I like your answer. :)
Title: Re: Gallienvs half aureus?
Post by: *Alex on November 17, 2012, 01:53:09 pm
Well that's me learned something new. Congratulations on a nice find IMPCAESAR, I had never heard of quinarii struck with antoninianii dies before.  :-X
Pscipio I acknowledge that you are indeed a true expert.  :)

Alex.
Title: Re: Gallienvs half aureus?
Post by: cebolar on November 22, 2012, 10:48:38 am
actually I think it's not a half aureus, but yes, a double aureus (or binio) Göbl 1419a (of which he knew no example)!
sounds crazy with a weight of 2,00 gms, but Göbl shows on plate 104 the double aureus 1424 a,(from the same emission), which only has a weight of 2,20 g also!
best regards
frank