Dr. Ilya Prokopov's Fake Ancient Coin Reports
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Home > Fake Coin Study Images - Learn to Identify Fake Coins > Evidence of Casting

Most viewed - Evidence of Casting
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Evidence of Casting - Sprue and Edge Seam4647 viewsIt was described on line as a Septimius Severus, silver drachm. The original is one of the die pairs listed AMNG I, 1, no. 1354. It is a silver simple 2-mold cast of an AE 18-19 of Nicopolis ad Istrum. This coin is reported in Roman Provincial category. The face of Apollo on the reverse was "improved", there is a seam between the two halves, and evidently a sprue, as well. Contributed by P.L. Patricia Lawrence (slokind)
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Evidence of Casting - An Example with Obvious Casting Flaws4223 viewsClick to see a larger image of an extreme example to help new collectors understand what soft details, etc. mean. All features are rounded. Nothing sharp. Everything blends into fields without distinct edges. It is fairly obvious the pits are not corrosion, but from air bubbles in the liquid metal. Even though the edge has been filed, there is still a trace of the seam. Posted on the boards by peterhill.
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Evidence of Casting - Comparison with Genuine Struck Original3519 viewsThe top coin is a cast fake. The bottom coin is an original struck coin. The genuine coin is sharp. No amount of wear could make the genuine coin look like the cast coin. The lack of detail on the cast coin is not wear on the high points; it is everywhere. The raised bubbles in the fields (nicknamed "pearls") are another indicator of casting. Joe Sermarini
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Evidence of Casting - Apparent Wear That Isn't Wear3233 viewsA cast Alexander the Great drachm and a cast Tiberius denarius "Tribute Penny." Both exhibit the typical soft edges and missing details of cast coins. While both superficially appear to be worn, the wear is equal on the high points and in protected recessed areas, which is impossible. There are no actual indications of circulation - tiny bumps and scratches.Joe Sermarini
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Evidence of Casting - Edge Filing3200 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 Sermarini
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Evidence of Casting - GENUINE COIN - Study Image of Edge Crease to Compare With Casting Seams3080 viewsSometimes when a coin is struck the metal on the edge folds or forms a crease. This picture shows a normal edge fold or crease, which looks a bit different from a casting seam. The coin is genuine.
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Evidence of Casting - Missing Details That Were Off-Flan on the Coin Used to Make the Mold3001 viewsThis is a pressure cast forgery made with molds created using the lost wax method. First a mold is made using a genuine coin. Copies are made in wax using that mold. The advantage of making wax copies is that the edge rim is easily removed from wax. In addition, small changes can be carved in the wax and new flan edges and shapes can be created for each copy. These wax coins are then used to make new molds each of which is unique and does not have a seam. Instead of splitting the mold creating a seam, the wax coin is melted and burned out of the mold. The mold must still have a sprue (and usually two per coin). The casting is then done in a centrifuge to eliminate most of the air bubbles and other evidence of casting. This pressure casting is not completely effective because under a microscope the evidence of casting is still visible. This coin has an obvious sign. The crest of Athena's helmet was off the flan on the original genuine coin used to create the first mold and wax copies. The forgers made the flan of this fake a little larger than the original in the area above the helmet from 9:00 to 12:00, but the forgers did not recognize this area of the flan should not be featureless and flat. It should have the more of the helmet's crest, which is visible only from 8:00 to 9:00.
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Evidence of Casting - Cast Fake or Genuine Original?2753 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 Sermarini
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Evidence of Casting - A Clear Example of Soapy Soft Details2404 viewsObvious cast for study. Syracuse tetradrachm.

Imagine a fancy bar of soap made as sort of an over-sized coin replica. (Fancy hand soap for the guest bathroom!). After people use the soap a dozen times the sharp details are lost, not just on the high points but everywhere. Coins do not wear like a bar of soap, they wear on the high points while protected areas stay sharp. This coin perfectly demonstrates the "soapy" look.
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Evidence of Casting - Identical Flan Shape (Edges)2130 viewsEvidence of Casting - Identical Coins. For all but the most expensive fakes a forger will want to sell more than one copy. Completely identical edges are impossible in two different genuine struck ancient coins. These two coins must therefore be cast modern fakes. (They also have other characteristics of cast coins.)Joe Sermarini
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Evidence of Casting - Low Weight1983 viewsSyracuse, silver dekadrachm, Dewing 898ff. esnible noted:

This is a cast fake.

First, the weight [34 grams] is too low for the coin to be genuine.

Second, casts have less detail that struck coins in similar grade. Compare to this genuine example: [ http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=2860&AucID=6&Lot=109 ]. Note how this coin has less detail, especially in the crevasses that are not worn.

Third, it looks like there are similar-sized bubbles throughout the coin. Although 'bubbles' can also indicate corrosion, it should be a warning sign if they are evenly distributed throughout the coin.
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Evidence of Casting - Sand Cast - Fuzzy, Lightweight, Filing, Casting Bubbles (Pits)1969 viewsHere is a picture of a sand cast fake, showing all the good hallmarks.

1. Fuzzy details
2. Light weight and small size (it's about 15mm and 1.5gm)
3. Filed off edge
4. Casting pits

Originally posted on the boards by Feathers.
Joe Sermarini
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Evidence of Casting - GENUINE COIN - Study Image of Genuine Corrosion and Flaking1930 viewsCompare this with cast examples to gain a clearer understanding of the differences between casting bubbles and defects and corrosion. Also, Curtis Clay noted of this coin, "It's very hard to reproduce that corrosion and flaking." This coin demonstrates how genuine corrosion, flaking and aging can be used to determine that a coin is genuine.
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Evidence of Casting - Bubbles on Edge1857 viewsCasting bubbles on edge.1 commentsIlya Prokopov
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Evidence of Casting - A Cast Fake Collection - Wrong Metal, Soft Details, Edge Seems, Raised Rims1759 viewsThis "Collection" was offered to Forum for sale. All the coins are cast. Most are the wrong metal - the originals were silver. All have the soft details of cast coins. Many have easy to see seams on the edge. Many have raise rims on the obverse that are not found on genuine coins. These are some of the most common replicas we see. Click on the photo to see a nice BIG enlargement.Joe Sermarini
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Evidence of Casting - GENUNE COIN - Study Image of Seam-Like Lines or Cracks on Authentic Coins1687 viewsThis denarius of Maximinus I has a deep edge running around much of the coin. It might look like a seam, however it was caused during the striking of the coin, not a casting process. Fold lines are common on struck coins, however sometimes cracks appear instead. It probably depends on the quality of the metal. (Credit goes to Numerianus, Vercingetorix and Robert Brenchley for pointing this out in forum thread).

Note: The line appears closer to one edge of the coin. In a cast coin, one would expect the seam to be in the middle. (Credit goes to Curtis Clay for pointing this out in forum thread).
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Evidence of Casting - Identical Coins1678 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 Sermarini
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Evidence of Casting - Field Dips1635 viewsObv. - AR Denar, Vespasian
SW Studio
Ilya Prokopov
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Evidence of Casting - Bubbles and Pearls1610 viewsCasting bubbles can resemble pitting from corrosion but they are usually rounder. Pearls are bumps caused by bubbles in the surface of the mold.Ilya Prokopov
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Evidence of Casting - Filled Ear1605 viewsLost detail, note the ear is filled. The crack is also not completely through the coin or sharp inside.Joe Sermarini
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Evidence of Casting - Casting Bubbles and Casting Pearls1532 viewsCasting bubbles and casting pearls (or knots) are clearly visible in this photo. Pearls are raised bumps where metal filled the voids from bubbles in a cast mold (in appearance, the opposite of bubbles).Ilya Prokopov
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Evidence of Casting - Soapy Look (and Feel)1523 viewsToo perfectly round and it feels slippery/soapy.
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Evidence of Casting - Wavy Fields1515 viewsMacedonian Kingdom, Alexander III, the Great, 336-323 BC, 4dr, Messembria
AR tetradrachm [Toronto]
Head Herakles right in lion's skin headdress / Zeus seated left holding eagle and sceptre

At higher resolution, one can see clear casting pits. There is evidence that the obverse has been tooled to remove casting flaws. The devices and lettering are soft. This Toronto Group forgery was offered under the name "Oceans purity".

Joe Sermarini: The rises and dips in the fields are also a sign of casting. Look between Zeus' head and the eagle.
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Evidence of Casting - Cast Surfaces1467 viewsThere is no mint luster, no sign of metal flow, nor is there any indication of circulation - no small scratches, no wear. Superficially, the surfaces appear to have light corrosion, but it is more regular and invariable than genuine corrosion.
Ilya Prokopov
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