Too Much Yellow!

I have just flicked V.Coins on and got the best laugh I have had for ages.
A certain seller who has a name beginning with Z has found a new way to describe his " desert patina " coins.
I wont give it away yet as I would rather you check for yourself, its an absolute pearler

I had been hopeful that he ("Z") would lay off the doctoring after V's management called him out. But he's still "working" most of his new bronze inventory, although with much less coverage (less overt slathering). The management has not been coming down very hard, I guess. "A" has been laying low as far as I can tell.

Not the only one unfortunately.

I bought a couple coins very recently from another seller also on Vcoins. I won't mention the name here. Not readily apparent in the photos but in person it was obvious the coin had experienced corrosion, been stripped of its patina and then completely repatinated. They weren't described as such. I didn't pay much for them so no point in returning them. They were good coins, just repatinated. Browsing that particular vendor's inventory they have quite a few with similar coloured patinas that are also likely to be repatinated.

Generally the standards on vcoins is very high and have I have personally directed many people to buy from specific vendors.

Peter

That was a great writeup Bob. Gave me a good chuckle.

These two dealers have always bothered me. I also just registered a complaint.

Here's an distressing update. It seems Z's shenanigans have now progressed beyond the bronzes. For your consideration, seven AR drachms of Orodes II that Z just listed.

Bear in mind: these are currently posted at the V mall. I guess Code of Ethics be damned.

I don't think this needs much pointing out to the folks here, but look at repeating details and wear.

A fair question, and I'd like to read some opinions. There can be no doubt that something is quite amiss here, with all of the matching details.

I know that the casting process can account for such variations (like distortions of pellets). But are these coins cast? The differently shaped flans suggest that they are not. If struck from the same (modern) dies, how to account for the different shapes of those dots at the shoulders? Reworking of the die between some of the strikes?

Curious to see what others think.

Right back at you, Paul:

Not sure of the method of manufacture here. But I can say this: finding die matches among Parthians is a task. I've spotted them on occasion across auction catalogs (spanning years) and across some dealers' listings. Even then, it's usually an obverse or reverse match, not both. When a notorious dealer has seven drachms listed simultaneously with crescents identical, legends/script identical, etc., it raises red flags for me.

Could he have acquired them from a collector who spent years searching out coins with these particular die matches? Or could they come from a single hoard, having been struck at the same time and having remained together during the time of their circulation? I suppose. But sure seems unlikely to me.

I agree, EFLargeCents. I now suspect these are pressed fakes produced from dies that were made from an authentic, worn donor coin via spark erosion or "3D die sinking." Note the identical wear in the hair of Orodes across all seven coins.

Dirty business.