Last additions - Dr. Ilya Prokopov's Fake Ancient Coin Reports

Home > Resources > Fake Ancient Coin Report

Last additions - Joe Sermarini

OCTAVIAN Augustus bronze as M. Salvius Otho, RIC 4311263 viewsSalvius Otho, RIC 431. Wrong style, retrograde obv. legend. Modern punched letters COL TESA on the rev. at 3 o'clock . This coin was a promotion by a Spanish company called TESAFILM in the latter part of the twentieth century. This is a well-known token coin, part of a free "fantasy replicas" coin collection. "COL" is the abbreviation for the Spanish word "coleccion" (collection in English, as in coin collection).

Joe SermariniMay 04, 2005

Syracuse, silver tetradrachm, 121126 viewsAR tetradrachm
ΣYP AKOΣ, head of Artemis right, wearing earring and necklace, and bound with cord wound four times round the hair; around, four dolphins / Quadriga right, driven by male charioteer, holding reins with outstreched arms, goad in right hand; above, Nike right crowns horses: border of dots
BMC Sicily, 121; Sear 932

Reproduction of a Greek tetradram of Syracuse. dating from 450 to 439 B.C.E. The obverse has a portrait of Artemis with elongated hair while the reverse has a slow quadriga. (Sear 932) Stamped 'COPY' on the rim.Joe SermariniApr 24, 2005

Syracuse, silver dekadrachm, 200392 viewsAR dekadrachm, by Kimon
ΣYPAKOΣIΩN, head of Arethusa? left, wearing earring, necklace, and band tied above, and net; on front of bank, KI M; four dolphins around / Qaudriga left; above, Nike flying right, about to crown charioteer; horses in hogh action; in exg, a ledge or step, on and against which is placed a suit of armour, AΘΛA; on exg line, KIMΩN: border of dots
BMC Sicily 200

AR dekadrachm, Rosa replica of Becker modern counterfeit
reproduction of the famous 19th century German counterfeiter, Carl Becker. The Syracuse Dekadrachma of Kimon dates around 400 BC. (Becker-Hill #26). The obverse shows a portrait of Artemis-Arethusa I. The obverse shows a galloping quadriga driven by charioteer goad, growned by Nike flying right above. This double sided replica was made by Peter Rosa from plaster impressions of the Beckers in the collection of the British Museum in London. This piece is NOT an ancient coin. Each coin is stamped 'COPY' on the reverse or on its rim. Joe SermariniApr 24, 2005

Syracuse, silver tetradrachm, 002141 viewsAR tetradrachm
SVRAQO SION, quadriga right, driven by male charioteer, holding reins in both hands; horses advancing slowly: border of dots / Granulated incuse square, divided into quarters; in the centre, an incuse circle, containing a female head left; hair indicated by dotted lines, and falling formally over the neck
BMC Sicily 2

Reproduction of a tetradrachm of Syracuse minted between 490 and 485 BCE. This is Becker copy #23 (Sear 735). Stamped 'COPY' on the rim. Joe SermariniApr 24, 2005

Syracuse, silver didrachm, 020128 viewsAR didrachm
Naked rider, bearded, on horse prancing right, leading a second horse on his far side / ΣVRA KOΣ ION, Head of Artemis-Arethusa right, hair slightly waved and turned up behind under diadem of beads; three dolphins around.
BMC Sicily, 20; Sear 915

Sold on eBay as a reproductionJoe SermariniApr 24, 2005

Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius (as Imperator)178 viewsQ. Caecilius Metellus Pius (as Imperator)
Obv: Diademed head of Pietas right, stork before
Rev: Lituus and jug with handle, 'IMPER' in ex, all within laurel wreath.
Approximately 16mm in diameter.
Joe SermariniApr 24, 2005

Julius Caesar, silver denarius, Syd 1014222 viewsJulius Caesar 46-45 BC
Obv: Head of Venus right
Rev: Gallia and Gaulish captive seated beneath trophy
Coin measures approximately 17mm in diameter.
Reference Syd 1014
Joe SermariniApr 24, 2005

Didius Julianus, Denarius, RIC 1240 viewsObv: IMP CAES M DID IVLIAN AVG - Laureated head right
Rev: CONCORD MILIT - Concordia stand left with two military standards
Ref: RIC 1
3.52 grs, 20 mm
Joe SermariniApr 17, 2005

Otho, denarius, RIC 004179 viewsOtho (69 AD), denarius, obvious cast
Obv: IMP OTHO CAESAR AUG TRP.
Rev: PAX ORBIS TERRARUM.
18 mm, 2.7 grs

Joe SermariniApr 17, 2005

M. Antony and Octavian, silver denarius381 viewsL ANTONIUS COS., head right
M ANT IMP AUG III VIR RP CM NERVA PROQ P., head right
3.7 grs, 18 mm

1 commentsJoe SermariniApr 17, 2005

Evidence of Casting - Edge Filing3202 viewsFew examples of edge filing will be this obvious. Often there will be just a small area of filing that the forger missed in his later finer smoothing efforts.
6 commentsJoe SermariniApr 17, 2005

Baktria and Indo-Greek, Uncertain292 viewsBactrian, bronze replica of a tetradrachm? A tourist replica from Afganistan. Bronze approximately 2" diameter.Joe SermariniApr 17, 2005

Caracalla, Denarius, RIC -, CONCORDIA AVG492 viewsObv.: ANTONINVS AVG PONT TR P IIII, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev.: CONCORDIA AVG, Concordia seated left holding patera and cornicopiae
Ref:- Fantasy piece.

Diameter: 20 mm

Caracalla never has that CONCORDIA AVG rev. type on authentic coins.
3 commentsJoe SermariniApr 16, 2005

Plautia332 viewsRoman republic, denarius, cast

(Need attribution and description)1 commentsJoe SermariniApr 16, 2005

Evidence of Casting - Identical Coins1684 viewsThese three "coins" were offered by different eBay sellers all within weeks of each other. They are not all the same coin (on of our members bought one of them). The only possible explanation is cast copies. Joe SermariniApr 16, 2005

Rhodos, Rhodes, silver tetradrachm, #A139 viewsAR tetradrachm, 304-167 BC
Modern forgery; poorly cast obvious fake; artificial aging, patina, 'hoard residue'

Radiate head of Helios ¾ face to right / POΔION above rose, with bud to left and to right
Sear 5049vaJoe SermariniApr 16, 2005

Alexander the Great, Alexander III, silver drachm, #94387 viewsAR drachm, Lampsakos mint, c. 323-317 BC
Modern forgery
Head Herakles right wearing lion's skin headdress / AΛEΞANΔPOY, Zeus seated left holding eagle and sceptre. Buckle in left field, AI under throne
Price F94Joe SermariniApr 16, 2005

Tamanian (Qrym), Gothic550 viewsTamanian (Qrym) imitation of Roman imperial (Byzantine) denarian, minted by Gotts tribes
Publication: "Trudi Gosudarsvennogo Istoricheskogo Museya" (Proceedings of the State Historical Museum), Numismatika v Istoricheskom Musee, volume 115, sbornik XIV, pp. 61-88. Moscow 2001.

These coins come from the Krim (Crimea in English?) and are only weak related to the Ostrogoths in Italy.Joe SermariniApr 16, 2005

Justinian II, Modern fake of ancient imitative minted by Gotts tribes585 viewsTamanian (Qrym) imitation of Roman imperial (Byzantine) denarian, minted by Gotts tribes
Publication: "Trudi Gosudarsvennogo Istoricheskogo Museya" (Proceedings of the State Historical Museum), Numismatika v Istoricheskom Musee, volume 115, sbornik XIV, pp. 61-88. Moscow 2001.

These coins come from the Krim (Crimea in English?) and are only weak related to the Ostrogoths in Italy.
Joe SermariniApr 16, 2005

Evidence of Casting - Cast Fake or Genuine Original?2758 viewsSharpness in some areas looks more struck than cast. Overall, it certainly has the characteristics of a cast. Sometimes, however, these characteristics also result from wear and corrosion. Most likely the authenticity of this coin could be determined quickly in hand. But sometimes it just isn't possible to determine if a coin is genuine, especially from a photo alone. Our recommendation is simply not to buy coins like this from anyone except the most reputable dealers. Note: This coin IS fake.Joe SermariniApr 16, 2005

Vespasian, gold aureus221 viewsObv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG
Bust: Laureate head right
Rev: COS VII
Bull right, pawing the ground as in preparation for a charge.
Ref: RIC 96 (denarius)

The style of the obverse is completely wrong. Also sold struck on silver as a denarius.Joe SermariniApr 16, 2005

Brutus, EID MAR denarius392 viewsBrutus, EID MAR denarius. Another replica of this popular type. Notice the blobs before his forehead and below the cap. There are apparently genuine examples of the type with the same blobs, so it seems this fake coin was cast using a mold made from a genuine coin struck with damaged dies. Not every coin with the blobs is fake.

R beneath the pileus on the reverse, for "Replica" or "Reproduction."Joe SermariniApr 16, 2005

Hadrian, gold quinarius? (fantasy based on an aureus)181 viewsHadrian, gold quinarius (fantasy based on an gold aureus RIC III 168 (quadriga l.). 16 mm, 1.8 g. The style is not quite right. The weight is only about half what a genuine gold quinarius of Hadrian would weigh. Joe SermariniApr 16, 2005

Constans, imitation of silver medallion cast in bronze, Cohen 163273 viewsConstans, imitation of silver medallion cast in bronze, Cohen 163
Reverse: VICTORIAE - DD NN AVGG, Victory std. r. on cuirass and shield, supporting on her l. knee a shield, on which she inscribes VOT/X/MVLT/XV
This type was struck only in silver not in AE.Joe SermariniApr 16, 2005

1183 files on 50 page(s)