Fake Byzantine Coins - Dr. Ilya Prokopov's Fake Ancient Coin Reports

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Most viewed - Fake Byzantine Coins

Justinian Follis1635 viewsA common reproduction often seen for sale as genuine.

Anastasius1402 viewsSolidus, well-known fake Sear F4, this example is made to look worn, offered in Germany (July 2009)byzcoll

Heraclius gold solidus1383 viewsHeraclius gold solidus. Dangerous forgery from a series that has appeared in reputable auction catalogs and listings. The reverse die is probably the same one as Sear's Byzantine Coin Values F35, which is found paired with several obverse dies. This obverse die is similar to the others in BCV but apparently not published. The origin is likely Beirut. This coin was purchased by a collector several years ago on eBay from a non-dealer.

Justinian Follis, SB F171378 viewsJustinian Follis, 22.8g, 35mm dia. Published in Sear's BCV as F17 in the "Forgeries of Byzantine Coins" section in the back of the book (p493). The author of this section, Mike O'Hara, remarks "This is a fairly well made copy of a follis of Constantinople, year twelve. It has appeared in some major sales."

Constans II, gold solidus, S - F471308 viewsByzantine, Constans II, gold solidus, 4.11g, struck or pressed. Identified as a forgery in Sear's, "Byzantine Coins and Their Values" (no. F47). Submitted by sallet2004.

Constans II, gold solidus1286 viewsConstans II, gold solidus, 4.42 g, not cast but appears to be pressed rather than struck. Submitted by sallet2004.

Justinian1068 viewsObv: Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: Chi-Rho, epsilon in field right. Part of 2003 uncleaned fakes. Image thanks to Bob Bischoff

Heraclius gold solidus1058 viewsExample of a cast Heraclius gold solidus.

Submitted by Maridvnvmmaridvnvm

Anastasius I Solidus1042 viewsObverse: Helmeted and cuirassed bust of Anastasius I ¾ facing to right, with spear held in right hand over shoulder and decorated shield to front right. Text around D N ANASTASIVS P P AVG.
Reverse: Winged Victory standing left holding long staff, star in right field. Text around VICTORVI AAVGGGI, in exergue CONOB.
Mint: Constantinople
Diameter: 2.1cm

This is a REPRODUCTION and has copy mark 'WRL' stamped on one sideJonah Y

Justinian1040 viewsObv: diademed,draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: ANNO to left of I, xx over II to right. Part of 2003 uncleaned fakes. Image thanks to Bob Bischoff

These coins were seeded into the uncleaned lost of many of the uncleaned dealers all at the same time. They are not ancient in fabric and stand often stand out amongst the other uncleaned coins. Cleaning them was often a matter of wiping with a cloth rather than long soaks etc. They were undoubtedly modern. It drove a few uncleaned dealers out of business.

Justinian I1017 viewsObv: D N IVSTINI ANVS P P AVG
Bust: Diademed draped & cuirassed bust right.
Rev: Large I between A/N/N/O and Year XXII.
Exe: CON
Part of a 1000 coin lot from Germany/Bulgaria.
Image courtesy of GregK

Heraclius 610-641, COPY OF A BYZANTINE SOLIDUS968 viewsAdvertised on eBay as 100% gold museum copy of a Byzantine solidus.
Advertised size and weight 20mm and 4.1gms respectively.*Alex

Justinian I, Nikomedia, Year XII, of. A964 viewsA late 20th century cast forgery of follis of Justinian I (527-565) from Nikomedia, Year XII, officina A.
Diameter is 4,3-4,4 cm, weighs ca. 20 g. Known few exlemplares from the same mould. The same shape of the coin, the same crack on the margin near second P

Romanus III Solidus942 views3/4 of an inch
4.2g

Sold by BidAncient (Eftis) on eBay, June, 2005.

Published Sear pg. 516, obverse die of F85, reverse of F84.
wolfgang336

Justinian 20 nummia (half follis)938 viewsObv: NIVSTINI ANVSPPA Bust:Diademed probably draped bust right Rev: K with A in right field and N in left. Cross in left. Part of 2003 uncleaned fakes. Image thanks to Bob Bischoff

These coins were seeded into the uncleaned lost of many of the uncleaned dealers all at the same time. They are not ancient in fabric and stand often stand out amongst the other uncleaned coins. Cleaning them was often a matter of wiping with a cloth rather than long soaks etc. They were undoubtedly modern. It drove a few uncleaned dealers out of business.

Romanus III (1028 - 1034), Byzantine miliaresion, Sear 1822931 viewsAR miliaresion
Modern cast forgery
Romanus III (1028 - 1034), Byzantine miliaresion, Sear 1822

Justinian861 viewsObv: diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: H, P to right, X above, symbol to left. Part of 2003 uncleaned fakes. Image thanks to Bob Bischoff

These coins were seeded into the uncleaned lost of many of the uncleaned dealers all at the same time. They are not ancient in fabric and stand often stand out amongst the other uncleaned coins. Cleaning them was often a matter of wiping with a cloth rather than long soaks etc. They were undoubtedly modern. It drove a few uncleaned dealers out of business.

Justinian I, Nikomedia, Year XII, of. A858 viewsA late 20th century cast forgery of follis of Justinian I (527-565) from Nikomedia, Year XII, officina A.
Diameter is 4,3-4,4 cm, weighs ca. 20 g. Known few exlemplares from the same mould. The same shape of the coin, the same crack on the margin near second P

Anastasius I, Tremissis, sb0008842 viewsObv:- DN ANASTA-SIVS PF AVG, diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right
Rev:- VICTORIA-AVGVSTORVM, Victory advancing right, head left, holding wreath and globus-cruciger; star to right; CONOB
Sear Byzantine Coins and their Values # sb0008
Sold on ebay January 2008
Also offered for sale on eBay March 2008 with same photograph (noted by Hydatius)

Submitted by Maridvnvmmaridvnvm

Anastasius821 viewsPublished fake of a solidus of Anastasius I, listed in Sear under F3. Sold by a European auction house in September 2009.byzcoll

Alexius III816 viewsVery poor, silver coloured fake of an Alexius III gold hyperpyron.
Copying Sear Byz. 2008.

- the details of Christ are very poor, the arms are just
curved lines with no detail and his robe is badly made.
- the lettering is too large and looks incorrect. It should
be K Epsilon R O - H theta Epsilon I.
- the legend on the reverse is much too short.
- the clothes of the figures on the reverse do not have
enough detail.

Sent to wildwinds for identification by a Russian web user, Sept. 2011.
Helvetica.helvetica

Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine, Gold solidus779 viewsHeraclius, 5 Oct 610 - 11 Jan 641 A.D., and Heraclius Constantine, 23 Jan 613 - 20 Apr 641 A.D. Gold solidus, S 738, DO 13, EF, 4.366g, 19.9mm, 180o, 3rd Officina, Constantinople mint, c. 616 - 625 A.D.; obverse dd NN hERACLIuS et hERA CONSt pp AVG, facing busts of Heraclius and his son Heraclius Constantine, cross above; reverse VICTORIA AVGu D, cross potent on three steps, CONOB in ex.Joe Sermarini

Anonym 1020-1030777 viewsAE Folis
Obv. Nimb. bust of Christ facing.
Rev. Inscription in 4 line.
Cast, several layers fake patina.

Ilya Prokopov: This patina is composed of several layers of different colors. It is much thicker than the authentic. In this piece she not been cast well and we can see the defects. In "good" performance will be hard to guess that the coin is a fake. Ilya Prokopov

Anonym follis 1020-1030774 viewsObv. Bust of Christ facing.
Rev. Legend in four lines.
This type of counterfeit coins are produced by the following method: first taking an imprint of the original coin, then it is cast, then the casting is covered with several layers of artificial patina, and then placed on a press and pressed at a depth of several microns or mm. The low places are cleaned patina, but traces of the tool can be easily seen. Then again cover is an artificial patina. You can recognize the following features: the highest places on the relief of the coin press is bearing down on his old patina, and she sank in the metal, look like polished. This can not be obtained on the natural process of corrode in the ground. Moreover, in the lowest areas of the coin can be seen loose and multicolored patina. This is an artificial patina is not treated with compression and grinding. Often, various colors of artificial patina layers are as unnatural combinations. I have seen coins from this studio where metal and patina are the same for coins which should be struck from 1 century in Rome until the 10th century in Byzantium. With careful observation you can see bubbles remaining after the process of casting.
Ilya Prokopov

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