Most viewed - Dr. Ilya Prokopov's Fake Ancient Coin Reports

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Aelia Eudoxia, AE3, RIC 1011577 viewsObv:- AEL EVDO-XIA AVG, Diademed draped bust right
Rev:- SALVS REI-PVBLICAE, Victory seated right on cuirass, pointing one hand at a shield inscribed with the Chi-Rho as she balances it atop a column with her other hand
Minted in Constantinople (CONSA in exe)
Ref:- RIC X Arcadius 101

Appears to be cast. Flan cracks filled in.

Stamped Copy1575 viewsIf a coin is stamped "COPY" it is fake. Does that seem obvious to you? FORVM gets asked if a coin like this is real at least once a year. 3 commentsJoe Sermarini

Athens, silver dekadrachm1572 viewsOffered for sale on ebay in May 2005 (item no. 3973958279) at a starting price of $400,000 by someone in the Netherlands. Reid Goldsborough reported on Moneta-L that he has an identical Athenian decadrachm to this one, which is a declared replica with COPY below the owl on reverse. On this specimen the word COPY on the rev. has been scratched out. Only 14 of these coins are known to exist. Almost all are accounted for in various public and private collections. 42 g and 35 mm.wolfgang336

Artificial Patina - Bulgarian Fake Patina1535 viewsFrederic Weber wrote, "My wife's coming from Bulgaria, and say that's these patina are very close to some of that she can see on other false coins in Bulgaria. They use real items from roman time, but of poor value, they powder it to have a powder of real patina... with dust, limestone, soil and so one. They glue the powder on the coin with chemicals. Another way is mechanical by using very high pressure and a stream of water vapor."

Evidence of Casting - Casting Bubbles and Casting Pearls1534 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

Evidence of Casting - Soapy Look (and Feel)1523 viewsToo perfectly round and it feels slippery/soapy.

Evidence of Casting - Wavy Fields1516 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.

Constans, AE 3, FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Galley1492 viewsA dangerous fake reported on CFDL by Warren Esty. He noted that the mint is Rome, but the style and interpretation of details is not that of Rome (some details would be wrong for any mint). The bust type and particularly the cuirass are not correct. The rudder is wrong and may not be like any Roman rudder. The Victory has details not found on genuine coins. The nose, lettering, oars and phoenix are wrong.

Admin note: Since this coin was posted other very similar examples have been authenticated by reputable dealers and experts. It seems likely this coin is genuine, however, it will remain here until additional information clarifies authenticity.

Evidence of Pressing - Edge of Warm Pressed Silver Tetradrachm1480 viewsAR Tetradrachm
Edge of warm pressed Macedonian Kingdom, Philip II, silver tetradrachm.Ilya Prokopov

Evidence of Casting - Cast Surfaces1469 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

Artificial Patina - Toning Make-Up on Silver1457 viewsThe picture on the left is the coin he bought on eBay (the "R" lower right marks it as a replica). The picture on the right is the coin he sold on eBay. 1 comments

Evidence of Casting - Casting Sprue1455 viewsHere we can clearly see remnants from a casting sprue after removal. Most examples will not be this obvious. Ilya Prokopov

Monneron Constantius II Fel Temp Reparatio1444 viewsRather odd style even for Arles. 1 commentswolfgang336

Aigina, Aegina, silver stater1438 viewsAR stater, 480 - 456 BC
Smooth-shelled turtle, with row of dots down the middle and across top of shell, in the form of a'T'. / Large incuse square, of 'skew' pattern, divided by strait lines into five compartments.
Sear 2594

For sale on eBay 11/13/2004 by Toronto Group, ID priapuslarge.

Agrippina Senior, AE Sestertius, RIC 55 [Caligula]1428 viewsObv:- AGRIPPINA M F MAT C CAESARIS AVGVSTI, draped bust right, in hair in long plait
Rev:- S P Q R above, MEMORIAE/AGRIPPINAE in two lines in left field, two mules drawing ornamented carpentum left.

RIC 55 [Caligula], Cohen 1, BMC 81
Rome mint, Struck under Caligula, 37-41 AD.

A rather dangerous Bulgarian fake, sold in German Ebay in Sept. 2005 for 553€!

submitted by rupert2 commentsRupert

Claudius, sestertius, tooled1424 viewsThis coin has been tooled to the extent that it is impossible to determine if the coin is genuine. Although it probably was genuine, it has been destroyed. Joe Sermarini

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.

Gordian III1380 views2 commentsTanit

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."

Caligula and Agrippina, Denarius, RIC 141364 viewsObv: C CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR POT, Laureate head right
Rev: AGRIPPINA MAT C CAES AVG, Draped bust right, hair in plait behind
Date: 37-41 AD
Ref: RIC 14, RSC 2, BMC 15 sear5 1825

Posted to fakes board by William J Bligh

Confirmed:
"By chance the purchaser has sent me this identical coin for authentication. It is silver all right, 3.45 gr., but an obvious modern cast with a seam all around the edge!"
Curtis Clay

Octavian Augustus 1353 viewsAR Antoninianus, struck by Trajan Decius, 250-1 AD
obv: DIVO AVGVSTO, radiate head of Augustus right
rev: CONSECRATIO, altar

Sold on eBay as a silver reproduction by a seller from Spain.postvmvs

Evidence of Casting - Area Between Lip and Chin Blends Into the Field1351 viewsThe area between the lip and the chin on genuine coins is often very low relief, just above the surface of the fields. On cast fakes the detail is may be lost and the area may blend into the field. Soft edges between the portrait and the field, and casting flaws are also visible.Ilya Prokopov

Evidence of Casting - Casting Sprues1346 viewsSalonina Cast Antoninianus. This coin clearly shows casting sprues. If you had any doubt what those are, it should be clear now!Joe Sermarini

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