Dr. Ilya Prokopov's Fake Ancient Coin Reports
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Home > Fake Coin Reports > Fake Ancient Greek Coins: Hellenistic Period

GPMesambria3.jpg
MESSAMBRIA 2-1 c. BC64 viewsAR Tetradrachm
Cast, artificial patina.
Ilya Prokopov
Messambria1_copy.jpg
Messambria 2-1 c. BC53 viewsAR Tetradrachm
Cast, artificial patina.
Ilya Prokopov
Messabria2_copy.jpg
Messambria 2-1 c. BC51 viewsAR Tetradrachm,
Cast, artificial patina.
Ilya Prokopov
Messambria3_copy.jpg
Messambria 2-1 c. BC56 viewsAR Tetradrachm,
Cast, artificial patina.
Ilya Prokopov
_(KGrHqUOKnQE6(38Mby4BO)E4Wb2Qg~~60_12~0.JPG
Messenia40 viewsSelling as a copy on Ebay, Nov 2011

Sellers desc:
MESSENIA, MESSENA 183-182 BC DEMETER RARE COPY
SOLID STERLING SILVER ( 925)
Οbv:
WREATHED HEAD OF DEMETER
Rev:
ZEUS HOLDING THUNDERBOLT
ΜΕΣΣΑΝΙΩΝ in Greek
WEIGH 13.20 GRAMS
PERMANENTLY MARKED WITH THE WORD "COPY" ON THE RIM
SRukke
Screen_shot_2015-01-20_at_8_29_06_PM.png
Messenia, Messene silver tetradrachm27 viewsSellers description:

"ANCIENT GREEK SILVER TETRADRACHM MESSENIA 3rd CENTURY BC , B.M.C.10.11 , SCARCE!!!!!!
Weight : 16.79gr
Size : 28.1mm
Condition UNC,EF,VF,F,VG,G,PR : EF
Authentic : 100%"

Modern cast fake sold on eBay January 2015 by NFS "coinauction12"
mihali84
BOC_1995_Chris_24.jpg
Messenia, Messene, Silver Tetradrachm, Circa 183-182 BC67 viewsObv:- Wreathed head of Demeter right
Rev:- MESSANIWN, Zeus Ithomatas striding right, brandishing thunderbolt in right hand, left arm outstretched over tall tripod; SWSIKRA between arm and tripod.
Grandjean Series IX, 86 (D54/R71); BMC Peloponnesus pg. 110, 11; SNG Copenhagen -; McClean 6712
Fig 24 is the false coin

A product of the notorious forger Constantine Christodoulou.

Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 20, No. 1 in 1995 - example 24
Image used with permission of IAPN
maridvnvm
METAPONTUM Drachm.jpg
Metapontion, silver drachm123 viewsAR drachm, c. 212-207 BC (Time of Hannibal)
Head of Athena right in crested Corinthian helmet / META, ear of corn, leaf to right
Sear 423

A copy made by Becker circa 1830. Sold on ebay December 2006.
Submitted by Maridvnvm
maridvnvm
Greek24.jpg
Metapontion, silver stater95 viewsAR stater, c. 300 BC
Head of Athena right in triple-crested helmet / META, ear of corn, leaf to left

Sold on ebay as a reproduction August 2006.
Submitted by Maridvnvm
maridvnvm
Falso_1.jpg
Miletos, IONIA83 viewsAR Tetradrachm 32,5mm./17gr.
Epikrates/Artemidoros, magistrates.
Circa 175-86/5 BC.

Obv: Laureate head of Apollo left.
Rev: MIΔHΣIΩN above, Lion walking right, head reverted; star above - APTEMIΔΩPO(Σ) right; EΠIKPATHΣ in exergue

Offered for sale in Ebay by bigarhold_123 March/2009
mdelvalle
DSC09196.JPG
Miletos, IONIA, AR Tetradrachm26 viewsMiletos, IONIA
AR Tetradrachm 32,5mm./17gr.
Epikrates/Artemidoros, magistrates.
Circa 175-86/5 BC.

Obv: Laureate head of Apollo left.
Rev: MIΔHΣIΩN above, Lion walking right, head reverted; star above - APTEMIΔΩPOΣ right; EΠIKPATHΣ in exergue
Joe Sermarini
Miletos 4.2.jpg
Miletos, Silver Didrachm, c. 294-28197 viewsObv:- Laureate head of Apollo to left.
Rev:- Lion walking to left, head turned back to right; monogram in left field; star above; in KTHΣIAΣ in exe

Sold as an "ancient fake" on ebay April 2008.

Submitted by Maridvnvm
maridvnvm
Mithra_I_tet_fakes.jpg
Mithradates I (Parthia)5 viewstetradrachm
Sellwood type 13

Two examples of identical casts sold by NFSL seller vintage.intaglio - the first (above) listed in 2020, the second (below) in 2022.
Kamnaskires
Mith.jpg
MITHRADATES II, 123-88 BC90 viewsAR DRACHM
PARTHIA, MITHRADATES II, 123-88 BC
Andreas G
BOC_1990_FEMFAGP_3.jpg
Mithradates II, Parthian, AV Multiple96 viewsObv:- Breaded bust of king left, wearing diadem tied at back of head
Rev:- Elephant walking left, to left monogram, to right branch
91.06g

The weight corresponds to a double dodecadrachm and would make it the heaviest gold coin.

Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 15, No. 1 in 1990 - Example 3
Image used with permission of IAPN
maridvnvm
e14471.jpg
Mithradates III, Pontic144 viewsAR tetradrachm
Diademed and draped bust right, with close beard / BAΣIΛEΩΣ MIΘPAΔATOY, Zeus entroned left, holding eagle and sceptre
Sear 7239

220-185 BC. Hill #72. Sold as Rosa reproduction of Becker coin. Electro-plated silver over pewter. “Copy” stamped on rim. Image courtesy of Charlie at the Coin Replica Store.
Alex
BOC_1993_2_Hell_1.jpg
Mithradates III, Pontic, AR tetradrachm101 viewsObv:- Diademed and draped bust right, with close beard
Rev:- BAΣIΛEΩΣ MIΘPAΔATOY, Zeus entroned left, holding eagle and sceptre
Sear 7239
Fig 1a is the false coin - 16.37g
Fig 1b is genuine - British Museum (Photo from PCG pl. 32,1)
Fig 1c is genuine - Paris (photo from Rec. gen. pl. 1,4)

A remarkable work from the Galvano Boys. The BM model has an irregulr flan and the beginning of both legends are incomplete, as on the copy despite the fuller flan. The lower part of the king's chlamys, missing on the BM coin, was incorrectly restored and embellished on the false die.

Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 18, No. 2 in 1993 - example 1a
maridvnvm
Gr.jpg
Mithradates the Great, Eupator, Mithradates VI, Pontic, Ar Tetradrachm121 viewsKINGS of PONTOS. Mithradates VI.
Obv:- Diademed head right, hair tousled and flowing freely
Rev:- BASILEWS MIQRADATOU EUPATOROS, stag grazing left; pellet below, star and crescent to left, (date letter ) and monogram to right; all within Dionysiac wreath of ivy and fruit.

Sold as genuine on ebay April 2008

Submitted by Maridvnvm
maridvnvm
Mithrades_VI_silv.jpg
Mithradates the Great, Eupator, Mithradates VI, Pontic, Ar Tetradrachm164 viewsKINGS of PONTOS. Mithradates VI.
Obv:- Diademed head right, hair tousled and flowing freely
Rev:- BASILEWS MIQRADATOU EUPATOROS, stag grazing left; pellet below, star and crescent to left, (date letter ) and monogram to right; all within Dionysiac wreath of ivy and fruit.

Sold as a replica on ebay August 2008
maridvnvm
BOC_1987_OTMVI_1.jpg
Mithradates the Great, Eupator, Mithradates VI, Pontic, Ar Tetradrachm94 viewsObv:- Diademed head right, hair tousled and flowing freely
Rev:- BAΣIΛEΩΣ MIΘPAΔATOY EYΠATAPOΣ, stag grazing left; pellet below, star and crescent to left, (date letter ) and monogram to right; all within Dionysiac wreath of ivy and fruit
Fig 1 is the false coin - 12.5g - appeared on the cover of a fixed price list in Spring 1987
Fig 4 is genuine

Apparently the work of a 19th century counterfeiter - cast with an extremely low weight of 12.5g.

Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 12, No. 1 in 1987 - example 1
Image used with permission of IAPN
maridvnvm
BOC_1987_OTMVI_2.jpg
Mithradates the Great, Eupator, Mithradates VI, Pontic, Ar Tetradrachm95 viewsObv:- Diademed head right, hair tousled and flowing freely
Rev:- BAΣIΛEΩΣ MIΘPAΔATOY EYΠATAPOΣ, stag grazing left; pellet below, star and crescent to left, (date letter ) and monogram to right; all within Dionysiac wreath of ivy and fruit
Fig 2 is the false coin - 12.5g - Stockholm museum
Fig 4 is genuine

Apparently the work of a 19th century counterfeiter - cast with an extremely low weight of 12.5g.

Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 12, No. 1 in 1987 - example 2
Image used with permission of IAPN
maridvnvm
BOC_1987_OTMVI_3.jpg
Mithradates the Great, Eupator, Mithradates VI, Pontic, Ar Tetradrachm105 viewsObv:- Diademed head right, hair tousled and flowing freely
Rev:- BAΣIΛEΩΣ MIΘPAΔATOY EYΠATAPOΣ, stag grazing left; pellet below, star and crescent to left, (date letter ) and monogram to right; all within Dionysiac wreath of ivy and fruit
Fig 3 is the false coin - 12.5g - Paris museum - the phony double strike usually seen on these casts has been tooled ofd
Fig 4 is genuine

Apparently the work of a 19th century counterfeiter - cast with an extremely low weight of 12.5g.

Published in the IAPN BOC Vol 12, No. 1 in 1987 - example 3
Image used with permission of IAPN
maridvnvm
b8_1_b.jpg
Mithradates the Great, Eupator, Mithradates VI, Pontic, gold182 viewsAV stater?, 13mm, 3.2g
Sear 7247

KINGS of PONTOS. Mithradates VI.
Obv:- Diademed head right, hair tousled and flowing freely
Rev:- BASILEWS MIQRADATOU EUPATOROS, stag grazing left; pellet below, star and crescent to left, (date letter ) and monogram to right; all within Dionysiac wreath of ivy and fruit.
AV Stater from the Pergamon mint. 120-63 BC.
Size 13 mm and its weight 3.2 grams

esnible - "The specimen in the British Museum weighss 8.49g (= 131 grains in the book). The weights on gold coins were usually exact. If the eBay coin is genuine, it would be a previously unknown denomination: 3/8 stater."

Submitted by Maridvnvm
maridvnvm
DSCN4760.jpg
Mithradates the Great, Eupator, Mithradates VI, Pontic, gold155 viewsKINGS of PONTOS. Mithradates VI.
Obv:- Diademed head right, hair tousled and flowing freely
Rev:- BASILEWS MIQRADATOU EUPATOROS, stag grazing left; pellet below, star and crescent to left, (date letter ) and monogram to right; all within Dionysiac wreath of ivy and fruit.
AV Stater from the Pergamon mint. 120-63 BC.

Sold as a reproduction on ebay July 2006.

Submitted by Maridvnvm
maridvnvm
1928 files on 81 page(s) 54

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