Fake Ancient Greek Coins: Archaic and Classical
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Istros, silver stater83 viewsObv:- Two male heads facing, right inverted.
Rev:- ΙΣΤΡΙΗ Sea-eagle grasping dolphin, A below
Fig 17 is the false coin - 5.84g
cf. AMNG I/I 416, SNG Cop 192 var (right head inverted), SGCV I 1669
In September 1989 groups if Istros staters were offered usually in groups of 6 claiming to be from a hoard of 30 specimens found in Bulgaria. It was possible to study 18 of them, they come from 8 obverse and 6 reverse dies. This is highly suspicious. Apparently punches were used to create the obverese dies. They have whitish, slightly grainy surfaces. Their style is remarkably coarse.
Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 14, No. 2 in 1989 - example 17
Image used with permission of IAPN maridvnvm
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Istros, silver stater91 viewsObv:- Two male heads facing, right inverted.
Rev:- ΙΣΤΡΙΗ Sea-eagle grasping dolphin, A below
Fig 18 is the false coin - 5.85g
cf. AMNG I/I 416, SNG Cop 192 var (right head inverted), SGCV I 1669
In September 1989 groups if Istros staters were offered usually in groups of 6 claiming to be from a hoard of 30 specimens found in Bulgaria. It was possible to study 18 of them, they come from 8 obverse and 6 reverse dies. This is highly suspicious. Apparently punches were used to create the obverese dies. They have whitish, slightly grainy surfaces. Their style is remarkably coarse.
Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 14, No. 2 in 1989 - example 18
Image used with permission of IAPN maridvnvm
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Istros, silver stater, die links208 viewsObv:- Two male heads facing, right inverted.
Rev:- ΙΣΤΡΙΗ Sea-eagle grasping dolphin, A below
Fig 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are the false coins
This illustrates the following die links:-
Obverse die links on coins 1, 3 and 4.
Obverse die links on coins 5, 6 and 7.
Reverse die links on coins 1 and 6.
Reverse die links on coins 4 and 5.
In September 1989 groups if Istros staters were offered usually in groups of 6 claiming to be from a hoard of 30 specimens found in Bulgaria. It was possible to study 18 of them, they come from 8 obverse and 6 reverse dies. This is highly suspicious. Apparently punches were used to create the obverese dies. They have whitish, slightly grainy surfaces. Their style is remarkably coarse.
Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 14, No. 2 in 1989 - Die links 1
Image used with permission of IAPNmaridvnvm
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Istros, silver stater, die links145 viewsObv:- Two male heads facing, right inverted.
Rev:- ΙΣΤΡΙΗ Sea-eagle grasping dolphin, A below
Fig 8, 10 and 11 are the false coins
This illustrates the following die links:-
Obverse die links on coins 8, 10 and 11.
In September 1989 groups if Istros staters were offered usually in groups of 6 claiming to be from a hoard of 30 specimens found in Bulgaria. It was possible to study 18 of them, they come from 8 obverse and 6 reverse dies. This is highly suspicious. Apparently punches were used to create the obverese dies. They have whitish, slightly grainy surfaces. Their style is remarkably coarse.
Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 14, No. 2 in 1989 - Die links 2
Image used with permission of IAPNmaridvnvm
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Istros, silver stater, die links149 viewsObv:- Two male heads facing, right inverted.
Rev:- ΙΣΤΡΙΗ Sea-eagle grasping dolphin, A below
Fig 16, 17 and 18 are the false coins
cf. AMNG I/I 416, SNG Cop 192 var (right head inverted), SGCV I 1669
This illustrates the following die links:-
Reverse die links on coins 16, 17 and 18.
In September 1989 groups if Istros staters were offered usually in groups of 6 claiming to be from a hoard of 30 specimens found in Bulgaria. It was possible to study 18 of them, they come from 8 obverse and 6 reverse dies. This is highly suspicious. Apparently punches were used to create the obverese dies. They have whitish, slightly grainy surfaces. Their style is remarkably coarse.
Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 14, No. 2 in 1989 - Die links 3
Image used with permission of IAPNmaridvnvm
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Lydia, Av stater124 viewsObv:- Foreparts of lion right and bull left, face to face
Rev:- oblong incuse punch with irregular surface
Fig 1 is the false coin - 10.77g
Fig 3 is genuine - SNG von Aulock 8211
Struck from modern dies. The gold is yellow, the obverse field slightly concave (it is often a little roof-shaped on genuine specimens). Crude style. The reverse of this example is impossible since genuine Lydian staters have two separate incuse squares, which form a rectangle while the reverses of these counterfeits are struck with a single punch.
There are two examples here of the heavy and the light Lydian staters but they come from the same obverse die.
Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 14, No. 2 in 1989 - example 1
Image used with permission of IAPN maridvnvm
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Lydia, Av stater113 viewsObv:- Foreparts of lion right and bull left, face to face
Rev:- oblong incuse punch with irregular surface
Fig 2 is the false coin - 8.71g
Fig 3 is genuine - SNG von Aulock 8211
Struck from modern dies. The gold is yellow, the obverse field slightly concave (it is often a little roof-shaped on genuine specimens). Crude style.
There are two examples here of the heavy and the light Lydian staters but they come from the same obverse die.
Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 14, No. 2 in 1989 - example 2
Image used with permission of IAPNmaridvnvm
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Lydia, Av stater - die link125 viewsObv:- Foreparts of lion right and bull left, face to face
Rev:- oblong incuse punch with irregular surface
Matching obverse dies.
Struck from modern dies. The gold is yellow, the obverse field slightly concave (it is often a little roof-shaped on genuine specimens). Crude style. The reverse of this example is impossible since genuine Lydian staters have two separate incuse squares, which form a rectangle while the reverses of these counterfeits are struck with a single punch.
These examples are of the heavy and the light Lydian staters but they come from the same obverse die.
Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 14, No. 2 in 1989 - example 1 and 2
Image used with permission of IAPNmaridvnvm
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Philip II, gold stater68 viewsObv:- Laureated head of Apollo right.
Rev:- Galloping biga driven right by charioteer holding goad. ΦΙΛΛΙΠΠΟΥ above chariot.
Fig 1 is the false coin
Modern cast, offered in Munich by an Afghani gentleman in large quantities. Made in Afghanistan and Northern India.
Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 14, No. 2 in 1989 - example 1
Image used with permission of IAPN maridvnvm
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Amphipolis, silver tetradrachm (Attic weight)78 viewsObv:- Head of Apollo ¾ right, of vigorous classical style, laureate, and with hair disheveled
Rev:- AMΦIΠOΛITEΩN on raised frame containing a race torch, within incuse square
Fig 1 is the false coin
Wrong weight.
Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 14, No. 2 in 1989 - example 1
Image used with permission of IAPNmaridvnvm
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Athens, Av Tetradrachm187 viewsObv:- Head of Athena right, wearing crested helmet decorated with three olive-leaves and floral scroll.
Rev:- ΑΘΕ, Owl standing, right, head facing, with spread tail feathers; olive sprig and crescent behind; all within incuse square.
Fig 2 is the false coin - 17.19g
From a group of gold and silver examples from the same mold.
Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 14, No. 2 in 1989 - example 2
Image used with permission of IAPNmaridvnvm
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Athens, Ar Tetradrachm199 viewsObv:- Head of Athena right, wearing crested helmet decorated with three olive-leaves and floral scroll.
Rev:- ΑΘΕ, Owl standing, right, head facing, with spread tail feathers; olive sprig and crescent behind; all within incuse square.
Fig 3 is the false coin - 17.21g
From a group of gold and silver examples from the same mold.
Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 14, No. 2 in 1989 - example 3
Image used with permission of IAPNmaridvnvm
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Athens, Ar Tetradrachm182 viewsObv:- Head of Athena right, wearing crested helmet decorated with three olive-leaves and floral scroll.
Rev:- ΑΘΕ, Owl standing, right, head facing, with spread tail feathers; olive sprig and crescent behind; all within incuse square.
Fig 4 is the false coin - 16.59g
From a group of gold and silver examples from the same mold.
Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 14, No. 2 in 1989 - example 4
Image used with permission of IAPNmaridvnvm
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Caria, Karpathos, Ar stater74 viewsObv:- Three dolphins; theupper and the lower swimming left, the middle one right
Rev:- Two rectangular incuses with decoration resembling sea urchins
Fig 5 is the false coin - 14.60g
The weight is too high with these staters always less that 14g. .
Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 14, No. 2 in 1989 - example 5
Image used with permission of IAPNmaridvnvm
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Athens, Ar Tetradrachm, die links246 viewsObv:- Head of Athena right, wearing crested helmet decorated with three olive-leaves and floral scroll.
Rev:- ΑΘΕ, Owl standing, right, head facing, with spread tail feathers; olive sprig and crescent behind; all within incuse square.
Fig 2, 3 and 4 are the false coins
From a group of gold and silver examples from the same mold.
Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 14, No. 2 in 1989 - examples 2, 3 and 4
Image used with permission of IAPNmaridvnvm
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Ainos, AR Tetradrachm121 viewsObv:- Head of Hermes, right, wearing petasos.
Rev:- AINI above goat walking right, all within incuse square
Fig 7 is the false coin - 16.40g
Struck, stylistically, somewhat close to May 267.
Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 14, No. 2 in 1989 - example 7
Image used with permission of IAPNmaridvnvm
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Elyros, Crete. Circa 4th century BC. AR Drachm65 viewsObv:- Goat head right; below, arrowhead left
Rev:- Bee.
Svoronos, Crète 1; BMC Crete pg. 36, 2; SNG Copenhagen 437.
Fig 8 is the false coin - 4.07g.
Has a touch of Christodoulos. The weight is insufficient, it should be a little over 5g.
Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 14, No. 2 in 1989 - example 8
Image used with permission of IAPNmaridvnvm
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Philip II, 359-336 BC, AR tetradrachm65 viewsObv:- Laureate head of Zeus right
Rev:- ΦIΛIΠ- ΠOY, naked youth on horse pacing right, holding long palm-branch
Fig 14 is the false coin - 14.30g.
Poor style and workmanship, offered at a coin show in Berlin.
Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 14, No. 2 in 1989 - example 14
Image used with permission of IAPNmaridvnvm
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Athens, AR Tetradrachm205 viewsObv:- Head of Athena r., wearing crested helmet decorated with three olive-leaves and floral scroll.
Rev:- ΑΘΕ, Owl standing, right, head facing, with spread tail feathers; olive sprig and crescent behind; all within incuse square.
Fig 15 is the false coin - 17.33g.
Poor style and workmanship, offered at a coin show in Berlin.
Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 14, No. 2 in 1989 - example 15
Image used with permission of IAPNmaridvnvm
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Carthage, Av Trihemistater121 viewsObv:- Head of Persephone left, wearing necklace with pendants, triple earring and corn wreath
Rev:- Stallion standing right, head turned back
Fig 1 is the false coin - 12.54g
Fig 2 is genuine
Struck from modern (plastic?) dies. The style is close to the original. The surface is uniformly matte without marke of striking..
Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 14, No. 2 in 1989 - example Warning 1
Image used with permission of IAPNmaridvnvm
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Akragas, Ar Tetradrachm, c. 450 BC225 viewsObv:- Eagle with closed wingsstanding left.
Rev:- Crab.
Fig 1 is the false coin - 17.27g
Fig 2 is genuine - ex "Kunstfreund"
Struck from modern dies. The obverse die is too large and flat. Generally, the letters in the original are confidently, but lightly made; in the counterfeit die they are recut and have a thicker, less graceful, more regular appearnce. Note the letter N; it is recut with the vertical strokes nearly the same length in the counterfeit; on the original the left stroke id only half as long as the right one. The head and neck of the bird have been touched up in the new die and have become slimmer in the process.
The reverse incuse is deeper than on any of the published speciments of this die. The die break on the edge of the incuse below the crab which occurs on all these specimens has been tooled off in the counterfeit die.
Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 13, No. 1 in 1988 - example 1
Image used with permission of IAPNmaridvnvm
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Leontini, silver tetradrachm115 viewsObv:- Laureate head of Apollo left
Rev:- LEONTION, lion's head left with open jaws; around, four corn grains
Fig 3 is the false coin - 17.28g
Fig 4 is genuine - Rizzo pl. 23, 19
Copied from an original.
On the obverse of this counterfeit, Apollo's nose has become pointed and his lips thin, thus giving the god a pinched expression. There is a circular punch behind the ear that cannot be explained. The field is slightly concave. Note the irregular border of dots.
On the reverse which is characterised by the bristles on the lion's chin, the final letter N of the ethnic has disappeared in the new die; it was replaced by a lambda in a different spot. This, as well as the die break on the iota, does not occus on any of the specimens known to the scholar who is preparing the corpus on Leontinoi. The corn grains are thinner than on the original. The reverse field is totally flat in the center.
Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 13, No. 1 in 1988 - example 3
Image used with permission of IAPNmaridvnvm
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Messana, Sicily, Circa 425-421 BC. AR Tetradrachm80 viewsObv:- Charioteer driving slow biga of mules right, holding kentron in right hand, reins with both; Nike flying right above, crowning mules; leaf with fruit in exergue
Rev:- MEΣΣANION, hare springing right; cicada right below.
Fig 5 is the false coin - 17.20g
Fig 6 is genuine - ex "Kunstfreund" 93
Note the slight difference in the shape of the chariot. The Nikeis smaller, flatter and the curve of the diadem she holds is altered. On the original, the ground line is quite uneven, especially where the olive touches it; it is straightened out on the false coin. On the reverse the letters are recut, the iota lengthened in the process. Also the hare's eye is recut and has become enormous.
Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 13, No. 1 in 1988 - example 5
Image used with permission of IAPNmaridvnvm
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Messana, Sicily, 425-396 BC, Ar Tetradrachm92 viewsObv:- MEΣΣANIΩN, hare running left; beneath, eagle left, standing on rock and devouring serpent: border of dots
Rev:- Biga of mules driven left; mules walking; above, Nike right holding wreath and caduceus; in exg, long fish left; on line of exg, name of artist: border of dots
Fig 7 is the false coin - 17.41g
Fig 9 is the edge of the false coin
Fig 10 is genuine - ex Hess-Leu 45, 1970, 52
Directly copied from an original of the dies Rizzo pl. 27, 9
Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 13, No. 1 in 1988 - example 7
Image used with permission of IAPNmaridvnvm
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