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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,002 |
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New Member
Canada
3 Posts |
Hello Forum, Bought this coin a few years ago. Was preparing to sell a few coins but wanted to make sure I wasn't accidentally scamming anyone by selling this one. It's what I think is a Manlia Scantilla Julia Domna denarius. However, the fact that they're rare coins with many reproductions, it's probably the case here. What's most concerning is the tarnish/dark colouring versus the ''silver'' center of the coin. Possible silver coating chipping off or would it simply have been cleaned to get rid of the tarnish in the center. You guys could probably point out many things in the details that would also indicate it being a counterfeit. Let me know if a better photo of the reverse is needed. Thank you!   Edited by SParring
06/16/2025 9:22 pm
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Moderator
 United States
34479 Posts |
@spa, first welcome to CCF. Second, it is a little hard to tell if the darker color is toning or a base metal core poking up from underneath a silver coating. Can you please perform a specific gravity test and post the results to this thread? That should help us to confirm the alloy. Also, please post the weight and diameter. Thx.
Hopefully others can weigh in on the remaining details.
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4409 Posts |
This isn't Manlia Scantilla.
The left part of the obverse legend is relatively clear. It reads IVLIA. This is Julia Domna.
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New Member
 Canada
3 Posts |
@Spence Thank you for the welcome and for the details. Will look into buying a electronic balance with a high precision tomorrow.
@Tanman2001 Thank you for the correction! Will update the post if possible.
Considering that a Julia Domna denarius is much more common, are the chances of this coin being counterfeit much less likely?
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Moderator
Australia
16904 Posts |
While reproductions and replicas of "common" ancient coins can be found, it is perhaps less likely to find one. The "imperial women" are overall less likely to be counterfeited, as they are far less popular with collectors than the actual emperors.
Overall, it does not look like a counterfeit to me. It has clearly suffered from environmental damage, as is common with ancient coins. I would generally suspect "horn silver" on a fine silver coin, though denarii from this time period aren't all that fine.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2100 Posts |
It should be noted that imitations of Julia Domna do occur quite regularly both in terms of fouree and outright imitations in solid silver. I don't actively chase these as much as I do those of Septimius Severus but have a couple from my collection that I can show to illustrate. You also get coins that have been corroded with black areas on the surfaces. FoureeObv:- IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG, Draped bust facing right Rev:- VENVS GENETRIX, Venus seated left with scepter & right hand extended, cupid at feet Copies a coin minted in Rome, A.D. 217 References:- copying RIC 389 Here you can see areas where the plating has "blown" away from the core beneath.  ImitativeObv:- IVLIA DO-MNA AVG, Draped bust right, hair tied in bun behind Rev:- LIBE-RI AVG, Liberalitas seated left, holding accounting board and cornucopiae  Corroded with dark adhesionsObv:- IVLIA AVGVSTA, Draped bust right Rev:- P SEPT GETA CAES PONT, Bust of Geta right. References:- RIC 571  Edited by maridvnvm
06/17/2025 04:43 am
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2100 Posts |
FWIW but with a caveat that this is based purely on the images, I would have believe the coin to be a corroded Rome mint VENVS FELIX. Having the coin in hand and under magnification could change this opinion.
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Moderator
United States
191476 Posts |
 to the Community! |
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New Member
Canada
3 Posts |
Hello all, thank you for the replies and the welcomes. I'm relieved to know that the chances of it being a copy are less likely but will continue my research keeping in mind that counterfeits still exist, even of these more common coins.
I will return when I can with the weight and specific gravity.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2100 Posts |
Please bear in mind that these coins have a relatively high base metal content. Depending on the ground conditions the copper may well have been chemically leeched from the coin.
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,002 |
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Posted 06/16/2025 8:34 pm
