Commodus: Fake Or Not.

NB. to keep my comparisons between the CNG example and those on the BM site separate, I wrote the above before looking at Medieval's link. Perhaps I shouldn't have, but it is just a habit. Considering those examples too though I am slightly more inclined to think my coin just might be OK. Although they are a little more different, they show how close in structure the dies can be, whilst remaining different. They really demonstrate just how accurately the Romans were able to control the manufacture of their dies. Anyway...everybody's input is much appreciated. Many thanks, but I think I still need more help for any conclusion to be reached...

Fire away

Maybe not a bad idea PishPash. Maybe I should flog it to FvrivsRvfvs before I get any bad news, lol.

But I couldn't...I couldn't do that to anyone...and as I said, even if it isn't good news, it is of interest and value to me either way.

No deal! Lol.

That is the best idea. At least it would put your mind at rest.

Thank you very much for your comment, FVRIVS...and for sharing your experience there. That is the nub of it isn't it? A die match in many circumstances can seem suspicious, but in particular circumstances, in the presence of other reassuring factors, it can almost clinch the authenticity of the coin.

Now I have good news (for me!) which I feel pretty much secures the genuineness of my coin. I have just heard back from CNG coins. I think this settles the issue satisfactorily for me...and means I will elect to save myself sending it across the ocean to David Sear.

Hear is a copy of the email from Kerry:

I don't see anything about your coin that would cause me to think that it is not genuine. It appears to be a well-worn example of the same type (and perhaps dies) of the coin that we sold in 2005. I would need to have both coins in hand in order to determine 100% if they are from the same dies, mainly due to the wear on your piece, but based on your photos, including the edge, I don't see anything wrong with your coin. The patina on your coin also looks ancient, which is hard to replicate.

Best regards,
Kerry Wetterstrom

Not even fifteen fifty I am afraid. Heh heh. But thanks very much for your kind wishes PishPash...and I am very grateful to everyone on this thread for their thoughts. Quite aside from it seeming to work out well, I have enjoyed the conversation and found it very useful.

Cheers all!

Although similar, Maridvnvm, I think the reverse is from a different die...I see small differences. Look for example at the exact position of that little blob in the right side of the stand..or at the gap which appears between the T and the A of LIBERALITAS which appears on your example, but not on mine. The obverse, as you say is entirely different...completely different style of portrait, which is interesting in itself.

Just to make a couple of observations in response, Sel..

When I mentioned different shaped flans earlier, I wasn't implying that was an argument against the coins originating from the same die. It was that as a secondary consequence of the particular zone where the uneven die 'trimmed' the third P of TRP PP on the CNG coin, a little of the detail was lost. As my coin has that missing detail in that area, it suggested to me that my coin was not a cast made from a mould originating from the CNG one. It was just to exclude that one specific possibility. Even Kerry at CNG was unable to be certain that the two were die matches, but assuming they were that would in itself not suggest authenticity either way, by itself. As you say the original dies could be the ancient authentic ones or faked ones. The reason I now lean more heavily than ever towards my coin being genuine is severalfold. First, a professional numismatist with greater experience than those who first condemned the coin has, given the same information they had available, confidently asserted his judgement that it is likely to be genuine. Secondly it has been my own judgement for quite a while, with the coin in hand, that there are a number of good reasons to conclude it is genuine. Thirdly, if as seems very possible, the CNG coin you found is a die match, but my coin was not cast from it, then they are likely as not as genuine as each other, having originated from the same dies. As the CNG coin has been in the hands of reputable professional numismatists and given the all clear, that in itself gives me confidence about my one. Finally...I absolutely have more than noted, indeed respected and appreciated, ALL the opinions and thoughts expressed here on this thread. It has given me some degree of reassurance that a significant majority think it authentic, whilst others have only particular uncertainties..not outright conviction of its inauthenticity. I am new to this group and therefore have yet to discover the full extent of the experience of those who hide like myself behind a pseudonym ;-) but it is clear that there is considerable experience here and I value very much the considerations of everyone. As is often the case in the grey areas, absolute certainty about a coin is not possible without extensive and expensive investigation, however I think I am able to rest for a while with this coin, having reached some level of certainty based on a reasonable degree of exposure to scrutiny based on the level of doubts that existed. If ever I did find it necessary to offer it for an independent third party opinion though, then I would absolutely draw on this thread and all the opinions here when doing so.