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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,187 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
How much information is needed to confirm a coin is a fake? It seems easier to determine a fake than prove a coin is real. As I study ancients and learn, I have put together some thoughts and an interesting comparison as an example. If you have any thoughts to add--I would appreciate your expertise!  Since ancient coins were hand-struck, every coin should appear different in some way. Therefore, if two coins have the same in details and flan shape, that is pretty conclusive of a copy, right? However, consider the situation where a coin shares some details with a documented fake--- how much of a match is needed to condemn a coin as a forgery? The coin in the bottom picture is currently on ebay. At first glance, it differs from the documented fake on top--the centering is clearly different. As I looked closer, a lot of similarities between the two emerge. One good area to compare is Athena's hair, which should be different on every die. Despite the fuzzy picture of the confirmed fake, there are too many similar shapes to be coincidental. The toning might be different, but the more you look, the more matches up--compare the arrows on each. I suspect the makers of this particular coin tried to outwit the documentation, because the pegasus side was different. However, that pegasus matches another confirmed fake, which pretty much closes the book on this coin.   Seller's description:
GUARANTEED ORIGINAL
PROVENANCE: EX BRITISH PRIVATE COLLECTION
WEIGHT: 7,4 GR.
SIZE: 21 MM |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
You should consider detective work. Good analysis my friend. Much better then anything I have done in the past. I need to train myself to look for these kinds of clues. Thanks
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
10045 Posts |
Thanks JW! I enjoy it..it's like a game, and helps refine my eye on coins I do purchase.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Impressive work DVC  I needed to improve my fake spotting a few months ago - ended up uploading about 250 fake reports at FAC. Took a heck of a lot of time but it did the trick and helped me to be able to spot the easier ones. |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
..and I agree Quote:
it's like a game As they get better at faking them we have to get better at spotting them! |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Quote:
...ended up uploading about 250 fake reports at FAC Wow...well done! Everyone benefits from all your work. Despite my detective work, I'm leery of buying from an seller like this guy who gives a "guarantee" and "provenance".  If I'm spending the money, I want a well-known dealer's lifetime guarantee, because it's more reassuring than thinking "it looks ok to me". |
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Valued Member
United States
422 Posts |
DVC....do you think this was a cast coin? It looks to me like it was struck, especially with the fine cracks on the edges, which BTW gives a more authentic look. I'd be taken in pretty easily I'm afraid.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
That might explain the centering differences,and I see those cracks (or marks) too, but I'm not sure I can tell either way--perhaps if I had the coin here.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
From the information you have presented, these forgeries would be die struck. If if they were cast, the centering would be the same.
Quite often to expose a fake, some effort in detective work needs to be done.
I would strongly suggest that anyone who wishes spend decent money on an ancient, detective work of this nature should be de rigeur. To get thus far, you don't even need scales!
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
The most important tool for the detection of fakes is experience. If you don't think you have enough of that, take your coin to someone who has.
One way of gaining valuable experience over time, is by reading and contributing to relevent threads here in the CCF.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Quote:
The most important tool for the detection of fakes is experience.  And I think that's something you pay for when buying from a respected dealer. Still...I check every coin I buy. |
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,187 |
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Posted 03/23/2012 10:17 pm
