Forger's Clay Mold? - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 7 / Views: 1,443
Biancasdad Pillar of the Community United States 1045 Posts	Posted 01/13/2015 11:44 pm With a friends permission from a metal detecting group, I post this for discussion. The only information I have is that it was found near the Thames and is 15-16mm. I thought it was interesting and was curious (as is my friend) to know more about it. Thanks for any comments in advance. Report this Post to the Staff

echizento Moderator United States 23731 Posts	Posted 01/13/2015 11:47 pm Interesting piece, wish I could help but I have no knowledge in this area. Thanks for posting it though. Report this Post to the Staff
Medieval Pillar of the Community 3772 Posts	Posted 01/14/2015 12:04 am Could be some sort of seal or even bale mark. Many places used ancient designs on one side of those (eg Nemausus = Nimes). Seems there should be part of the legend on the left hand picture legible - would be nice to see a clearer picture focusing on that part of the object. Report this Post to the Staff
Biancasdad Pillar of the Community United States 1045 Posts	Posted 01/14/2015 01:38 am That is interesting Medieval, and Echizento you are welcome. I am with you on this one, no clue I know the pictures aren't the best but that's all he had posted. I was trying to fiddle with my photo editor to see if I could enhance the legend but wasn't very successful. The bust certainly looks like Severus Alexander, and the reverse looks like a typical design for the period. What intrigues me is that the obverse is convex and the reverse (unless my eyes deceive me) is not. I posted this on FAC as well and am curious to see what the folks across the pond have to say when they wake up Edit: Must have been an optical 'delusion' I now can see the reverse is also convex Edited by Biancasdad 01/14/2015 02:38 am Report this Post to the Staff
Biancasdad Pillar of the Community United States 1045 Posts	Posted 01/14/2015 01:47 am A well respected auction owner from Switzerland had this to say: "A neat forger's mold of a Severus Alexander Denarius. The other side shows a PAX AVG reverse for the prototype. It is rare to find a forger's mold from this era, most of the surviving ones are from the 4th Century and from the eastern part of the empire. Yours may have been used to make base metal cast copies of Denarii that are (other than the molds) quite common in severan times - they may have been produced by local authorities during times of coin shortage." Edited by Biancasdad 01/14/2015 01:48 am Report this Post to the Staff
ancientgalleon New Member United States 6 Posts	Posted 01/14/2015 12:16 pm Likely forgers clay mold for casting Severus Denarii. However smaller in size than one would see as there would be a rim and channel to allow for the metal and depression to flow into the mold and hold the metal between the two pieces. Maybe its there but tough to make due to photos. Many are found broken,with edge pieces missing due to age or use. Clay would be correct. Also, tough to tell from the photographs, but one side being convex and the other being concave would be correct as several molds were stacked up against each other and pressed to make the impressions. Thus several were made at a time and this would be a middle piece in a stack. Can not comment on authenticity without seeing it in hand. Report this Post to the Staff
philadelphian Pillar of the Community United States 3253 Posts	Posted 01/14/2015 12:46 pm Thanks for the info ancientgalleon! I was having a hard time picturing how you were supposed to strike a coin with this thing. Report this Post to the Staff
ancientgalleon New Member United States 6 Posts	Posted 01/14/2015 1:00 pm To clarify, both sides would still be incuse (engraved) to allow the metal to fill the mold. Having a concave and convex side allowed the other molds to fit together so the molten metal would not flow out of the mold. so they were cast not struck. Report this Post to the Staff
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