nero aureus, is it genuine?

[anthivs]

Hello from Spain, so sorry about my english.
I like this Nero Aureus and the price is quite interesting. Can you tell me if is it geniune or a fake? THanks a lot!

[PLINIUS]

Nobody can tell if an aureus is good only by a photo. modern fakes obtained by microfusion ar difficult to detect even with a microscope.
The best thing to do with aurei is to buy a pedigree

[Joe Sermarini]

I do not see any reason to condemn this coin but as Plinius said, it is impossible to authenticate an aureus (or most any coin 100% from a photo) from a photo. 

I have not, however, ever heard of microfusion.   

[PLINIUS]

This link can be interesting (sorry but it is in italian):
http://www.lamoneta.it/topic/37306-sullautenticita-degli-aurei-imperiali/page__hl__aurei

I think I mean pressofusion for microfusion...    It is casting in a mold at high pressure, bubbles are very little.

[commodus]

Pedigree can be faked more easily than a coin itself. Well and good if verifiable but pretty much worthless if the last owner sold it anonymously, which is more and more often the case. Pedigree is interesting but unless a coin's ownership can be conclusively proven back a century or more it really isn't worth more than a COA, which is worth nothing at all, at least to this collector.

[anthivs]

but as far as you see, do you appreciate signs of forgery. I cannot see them. I think its geniune. PLASE tell me what do you see is wrong

[commodus]

I see none, either. The coin looks fine.

[anthivs]

Few people are sure that the coin is CAST and they appreciate bubbles on surface ( I DON´T)
And they say that the surface has been treated in order to elevate the NOSE of Nero, for intance.

The only detail i can you suspicious is a spot above the nero´s eye
here you are the picture

[anthivs]

her you are one picture with quality, where you can tell me all the suspicious details you find
need help, please , genuine aureus or not?

[Joe Sermarini]

Again, I do not see any reason to condemn this coin but it is impossible to authenticate an aureus (or most any coin 100% from a photo) from a photo. 

[Robert_Brenchley]

There are some people who are hyper-suspicious, and see fakes where there are none. If you're not sure, don't buy it without independent authentication, in hand, from someone with the right qualifications. It's not worth taking the slightest risk with the sort of money you'd expect to pay for an aureus. but that being said, I can't see anything wrong. The only thing is, I wonder why you're considering blowing that much money without, as far as I can see, learning very much about the coins first!

[commodus]

Indeed! If you are this ucertain about this coin DON'T BUY IT! Although almost certainly genuine in my opinion (and most others, it would appear), you aren't going to be happy. Learn more about aurei and also how to spot fakes before spending so much. The seller's price ($1,300) is a good one for this piece but still an awful lot to spend on something that is never going to make you happy because, quite clearly, you are always going to be suspicious of whether you bought a real coin or not. Save the money, save yourself some grief, and let the coin go to someone else who will truly appreciate it.

[Robert_Brenchley]

For that money you could get yourself some books, a bunch of cheaper coins, and start something which will keep you happy. Most of the interest lies in understanding the coins, not in mere posession of a pretty or two.

[Maffeo]

I don't want to be offensive and it's just my humble opinion, but I believe that if someone needs advice on whether an aureus is genuine or not, they shouldn't take the risk (and it's always a big risk!) of buying an aureus at all.

[commodus]

Well said, Robert and Maffeo! WELL said!