Dr. Ilya Prokopov's Fake Ancient Coin Reports
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Fake Coin ReportsUSE THE FAKE COIN REPORTS SEARCH TOOL to find a specific type. Start with only one or two terms and add more if you get too many results. Using the search will be much faster than clicking through pages of reports. FORVM recommends buying ancient coins only from reputable dealers. ALL COINS PURCHASED FROM FORVM ANCIENT COINS ARE GUARANTEED FOR ETERNITY. If you must purchase from an unknown seller, we recommend looking for the type here first. Please join FORVM's Classical Numismatic Discussion and then report fake, replica, and modern counterfeit ancient coins here. FORVM will screen these reports and correct any errors we detect, however, any discussion board member may submit a report. It is possible that a genuine coin could be listed here in error. Except for known fraudulent regular sellers of fakes, do not include the names of sellers in reports. DO NOT POST COINS HERE TO ASK IF THEY ARE FAKE - USE THE DISCUSSION.
21 16,269
Fake Ancient Greek Coins: Archaic and Classical


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2995 files, last one added on Sep 25, 2023
Album viewed 2601 times

Fake Ancient Greek Coins: Hellenistic Period


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1922 files, last one added on Jul 27, 2023
Album viewed 2127 times

Fake Celtic and Barbaric Coins


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358 files, last one added on Aug 24, 2023
Album viewed 617 times

Fake Ancient Judaean Coins


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101 files, last one added on Mar 19, 2023
Album viewed 658 times

Fake Roman Provincial (Greek Imperial) Coins


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319 files, last one added on Jun 24, 2023
Album viewed 775 times

Fake Roman Republic Coins: Before 27 BC


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1452 files, last one added on Sep 12, 2023
Album viewed 1386 times

Fake Roman Imperial Coins: The 12 Caesars: Augustus - Vitellius: 27 BC - AD 69


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1679 files, last one added on Jul 27, 2023
Album viewed 1652 times

Fake Roman Imperial Coins: The 12 Caesars: Flavian Dynasty: Vespasian - Domitian: AD 69 - 96


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648 files, last one added on Oct 23, 2022
Album viewed 1013 times

Fake Roman Imperial Coins: Adoptive Emperors: Nerva - Commodus: AD 96 - 192


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2092 files, last one added on Aug 24, 2023
Album viewed 1402 times

Fake Roman Imperial Coins: Year of 5 Emperors: Pertinax - Clodius Albinus: AD 192 - 196


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299 files, last one added on Jul 27, 2023
Album viewed 479 times

Fake Roman Imperial Coins: Severan Period: Septimius Severus - Severus Alexander: AD 193 - 235


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1129 files, last one added on Jul 27, 2023
Album viewed 1042 times

Fake Roman Imperial Coins: Crisis to Recovery: Maximinus I - Numerian: AD 235 - 284


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1223 files, last one added on Sep 05, 2023
Album viewed 1044 times

Fake Roman Imperial Coins: Tetrarchy: Diocletian - Licinius: AD 285 - 324


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193 files, last one added on Jul 27, 2023
Album viewed 713 times

Fake Roman Imperial Coins: Late Empire: Constantine - Anastasius: AD 307 - 518


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825 files, last one added on Jul 27, 2023
Album viewed 1114 times

Fake Byzantine Coins


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369 files, last one added on Aug 28, 2023
Album viewed 1432 times

Fake Medieval and Islamic Coins


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128 files, last one added on Jul 27, 2023
Album viewed 467 times

Fake World Coins


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75 files, last one added on May 29, 2020
Album viewed 396 times

Fake U.S. Coins


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56 files, last one added on Jan 28, 2016
Album viewed 158 times

Fantasy Coins


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Fantasy coins are modern creations made to look like ancient coins, but do not copy a type that actually exists.

212 files, last one added on Dec 08, 2022
Album viewed 330 times

Other Fake Coins


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57 files, last one added on Jul 07, 2023
Album viewed 350 times

Stolen or Lost Coin Reports


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Report coins that have been lost or stolen here (not fakes). You must include your username in the description and explain the loss or theft. If you see a coin reported as lost or stolen, please inform the owner.

137 files, last one added on Jul 03, 2023
Album viewed 388 times

 

21 albums on 1 page(s)

Fake Coin Study Images - Learn to Identify Fake CoinsExamine these images and read the descriptions to learn how to identify modern forgeries of ancient coins. Discussion board members please add images of study value and describe the characteristics that indicate the coin is a fake.
14 2,617
Evidence of Casting


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Pitting, filled cracks, field dips, edge seams, filing, soft features, lack of detail, casting sprues, ghost images...

92 files, last one added on Jun 30, 2023
Album viewed 1974 times

Evidence of Pressing


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Machine pressed vs. hand struck.

16 files, last one added on Jul 02, 2015
Album viewed 1052 times

Evidence of Modern Tool Use to Cut Dies


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Machine made dies...

20 files, last one added on Jun 02, 2010
Album viewed 794 times

Style Deviations


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Deviations from subtle to strange, forgers rarely get style right...

8 files, last one added on Nov 17, 2011
Album viewed 380 times

Epigraphy Deviations


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Forgeries often have the wrong style of letters in the inscriptions.

3 files, last one added on Oct 22, 2017
Album viewed 336 times

Fabric Deviations


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Wrong metal, wrong size, no edge cracks for a type that always has them, strange shape for the type...

12 files, last one added on Aug 17, 2010
Album viewed 338 times

Artificial Patina, Toning and "Make-up"


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Not every coin with an artificial patina is a forgery, but it is an indicator. In any case an artificial patina is a fake patina.

43 files, last one added on Sep 15, 2022
Album viewed 659 times

Work of Known Forgers


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Slavey, Lipanoff, Becker, Christodoulos, the Black Sea hoard, the Toronto Group, etc. STUDY IMAGES - only list here if you explain how to use the image to learn the work of the forger. Otherwise list under the type as a regular fake coin report.

1330 files, last one added on Nov 26, 2021
Album viewed 822 times

Replica Marks


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All replicas should be marked as replicas. Many are not, but some are. Here are some examples.

331 files, last one added on Oct 13, 2018
Album viewed 638 times

Bulk Lots of Mixed Types


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Groups of fakes or replicas of different types sold together may offer clues to identifying fakes from the same workshop.

104 files, last one added on Sep 18, 2015
Album viewed 661 times

Tooling


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A tooled coin is not a forgery, but it is a fake. Tooling is also used to cover up cast fakes.

88 files, last one added on Aug 22, 2022
Album viewed 583 times

Fake Coin Edges


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The edges of fakes often provide the clues to condemn them. Some of the examples here are very different from genuine coins; others are very close to the original type.

45 files, last one added on Nov 18, 2020
Album viewed 955 times

Modern Fake Dies


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504 files, last one added on Nov 26, 2021
Album viewed 527 times

Other Indications of Forgery


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21 files, last one added on Apr 05, 2019
Album viewed 725 times

14 albums on 1 page(s)

Fake Antiquity and Medieval Artifact ReportsReports of small fake "antiquities" and medieval artifacts.
2 291
Fake Antiquities


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266 files, last one added on Sep 25, 2023
Album viewed 197 times

Fake Medieval Artifacts


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25 files, last one added on May 29, 2021
Album viewed 129 times

2 albums on 1 page(s)

19,177 files in 37 albums and 3 categories with 690 comments viewed 2,582,945 times

Last additions
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Fake Oil Lamp, La Marsa Group, Tunisia 20th/21st Centuries3 viewsPer David Knell (Strobilus2): "I'm afraid your lamp is a poor-quality tourist fake. The style and fabric suggest it was probably made in the 'La Marsa' workshop in Tunisia during the 20th/21st centuries."

More about the 'La Marsa Group' here:
https://ancient-heritage.blogspot.com/2018/09/how-to-spot-fake-roman-lamps.html
v-dromeSep 25, 2023
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Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm (5th cent. Classical / Transitional)3 viewsAttica, Athens forgery tetradrachm.
Apparently imitating a Classical, possibly Transitional ("Starr Group") or Eastern style owl.

Reported measurements: 17.01g, 24mm.
(Die axis appears roughly 6h in photo?)

Obv: Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three olive leaves above visor and spiral palmette on bowl, round earring with central boss and pearl necklace.
Rev: Owl standing to right with head facing, olive sprig and crescent behind, ΑΘΕ to right; all within incuse square.

This forgery type (identical dies/centering) first reported by helvetica in 2016: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/displayimage.php?pid=17721

This specimen discussed 24 Sep 2023 in Discussion (including original, unedited photos): https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=132406.msg
Curtis JJSep 25, 2023
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Julius Caesar Denarius 452/2, Female head LII / Trophy1 viewsIdentical obverses, same banker's mark on cheek. Top coin appeared on social media, the brockage appeared in the inventory of a European dealer (reportedly 3.83g).

Type of: Julius Caesar. Silver Denarius, c 48-7 BCE. Military mint traveling with Caesar.
Obv: Diademed & wreathed female head right (Pietas or Clementia?), LII behind.
Rev: CAE-SAR, trophy of Gallic arms; to right, axe surmounted by an animal's head.
Ref: Crawford 452/2; Sydenham 1009; RSC 18.

Curtis JJSep 12, 2023
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GORDIAN III RIC 15 denarius3 viewsIMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG / PM TR P II COS PP
22mm 2.2g
Wrong style, wrong lettering and iconography, wrong weight (too low)
Dominic TSep 05, 2023
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Trajon Decius2 viewsTrajan Decius, AV Aureus 249-251, CAST FAKE. 4.2 grams. Obverse: IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder. Reverse. DACIA FELIX Dacia standing left, holding standard. Note cast bubble on cheek. RIC 14 note.
Mike P3Aug 28, 2023
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Theophilus, 829 – 842 AD2 viewsAV solidus
Constantinople Mint
Obv. - Crowned bust of Theophilus facing, holding patriarchal cross
Rev. - Facing crowned busts of Michael II (his deceased father) and Constantine (his deceased son), cross above
20.16 mm / 4.35 grams

A cast fake from Beirut. The main diagnostic points are as follows, courtesy of member DIN X:

1.Same scratches on obverse and reverse
2. same centering and flan shape, on yours it is slightly modified (a little bit huger flan) that you can see that part of the dotted border is missing due to bad centering of the authentic mother, so your coin can not be the authentic mother.)
3. Same flat struck areas on obverse and reverse on all coins
cmcdon0923Aug 28, 2023
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Trajan Denarius Dacian Captive Mourning on Pile of Arms (RIC II 98, Woytek 283b). Replica by Parmalat (Italy, 1985)2 viewsPer Din X, citing "Gettoni ed Exonumia" blogspot (see below): a novelty replica produced by an Italian sweet company in 1985, one of a series with replicas of at least 15 different Republican, Imperatorial, and Imperial silver types. An "R" on the reverse above the Dacian's foot.

Context: shared on social media (24 Aug 2023) by someone who inherited it among a collection of purportedly genuine coins. No weight / diameter given.

Trajan AR Denarius. Rome, c. 108/9 CE.
Obv: IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P. Laureate bust r.
Rev: COS V P P S P Q R OPTIMO PRINC / DAC CAP (in exergue). Dacian captive seated left on pile of arms in attitude of mourning.
Ref: RIC II Trajan 98 ; Woytek 283b ; OCRE: https://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.2.tr.98

See also: Gettoni ed Exonumia, 23 Aug 2015, https://exonumia.blogspot.com/2015/08/1970-parmalat-mister-day-monete-romane.html & https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=132126
Curtis JJAug 24, 2023
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Celtic, Atrebates and Regini, Verica, c. 15 - 42 A.D., Silver Minim9 viewsCeltic, Atrebates and Regini, Verica, c. 15 - 42 A.D., Silver Minim
Silver minim, SCBC 145, Van Arsdell 486, Cottam ABC 1295, VF, Calleva Atrebatum (Silchester, UK) mint, weight 1.194g, maximum diameter 9.9mm, c. 15 - 42 A.D.; obverse cross with central pellet, pellets in angles, all within pelleted border; reverse trident
Condemned as a modern forgery by NGC.
Joe SermariniAug 24, 2023

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