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 Replies: 15 / Views: 1,727 |
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Pillar of the Community
Netherlands
521 Posts |
Dear all,
Because I own a very scarce fragile Carolingian coin and need it for research, I was thinking about making an exact reproduction out of it. Made in the same way the original was made. With two dies, a hammer and an anvil. Not in aluminium, but in silver. (I have enough scrap silver.)
A friend of mine recently draw a technical drawing of the coin as illustration in the article. (I still have to start writing it...)
Does anyone know of a smith or moneyer that reproduces coins the old way?
Tim
Edited by Archeo1982
02/06/2018 08:00 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
If it were me, Tim, I'd go one of two routes: either pose the question to the good folks at the Ancient Coin Collectors Guild (and, particularly, to Wayne Sayles) - or see if I could track down one of the authors of a Celator article I recall from 2011: "New Experimental Evidence for Cold Striking of Ancient Coins." These are guys who have working experience with replicating ancient methods for coin production - I cannot imagine adjusting to early medieval would be much of a stretch. The authors were Scott Rottinghaus, George Cuhaj, and Joe Paonessa. Unfortunately I don't have their contact info, but you may be able to track them down with some searching...here's the issue with the article: https://community.vcoins.com/celator-vol-25-no-08/(the first pic in that article, by the way, mistakenly shows the same coin in each frame. In a subsequent issue of The Celator, they corrected that mistake and showed all the coins) |
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Pillar of the Community
 Netherlands
521 Posts |
Thanks for the advice Bob. I'm going to try to get in contact with them. I also had contact today with a Dutch medieval Reenactment group who try to make everything themselves and had a conversation with my old professor who is specialized in ancient Greek coins.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Netherlands
521 Posts |
I also found some ancient coin die examples. first is depicted on a roman denarius. the second is a carolingian die from the Melle mint.    |
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Pillar of the Community
Netherlands
521 Posts |
An update:
I visited a silversmith today. He gave me the advice to make a series of cast reproductions first.
With silicone gel, he is going to make a matrix of the original coin. With this matrix 5 silver reproductions will be made.
When these reproductions are finished, it will be easier to make a die out of it because these won't be that fragile.
When I've got the end result, I will post them together with the original.
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Moderator
 United States
34427 Posts |
Quote:
I will post them together with the original. I'm very much looking forward to seeing your results! "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
Netherlands
521 Posts |
Today I received the exact replica of my original. Almost exact that is, because the holes are filled up to make it a solid silver coin and a little thicker. I'm very pleased with the result! Original   Reproduction   |
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Moderator
United States
34427 Posts |
Wow, that is cast? Can you please show a pic of the edge so that we can see if there are parting lines?
"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
Netherlands
521 Posts |
A bit difficult to make a photo of the edge. But this was the best result  |
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Pillar of the Community
Netherlands
521 Posts |
But to answer your question. There are no parting lines visible.
The total mass of the reproduction is exact 2.0 gram
Diameter is the same
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Moderator
United States
34427 Posts |
Ok yes thanks. I guess what makes me a little concerned is that this (at least to my eyes) looks awfully close to the original. This result, of course, was your goal. From a numismatic standpoint, however, I'm concerned about about this some day getting out onto the open market as an original.
"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
Netherlands
521 Posts |
Like I said in an earlier post. There will be only a couple of silver exemplars. These are for the people who are truly interested in possessing an awfully close replica. The rest (if reenactment groups are interested) will be made out of pewter.
There are however a couple of clues in the coin. Clues that give away it's a cast. The original has a couple a cracks and holes in it. I've asked the silversmith to fill these up in the reproduction. On these places (below the KRLS monogram) you can discover small craters.
And to add: The silver composition of this piece is made out of "modern silver".
Edited by Archeo1982
04/07/2018 5:46 pm
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Moderator
United States
34427 Posts |
Yes I know that there are a few telltale signs, but as you say these are "awfully close replicas". Glad that the mass-produced ones will be in pewter!
"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
Netherlands
521 Posts |
Mass produced is a big word. Probably 15-20 exemplars will be made. After that the mold will be worn already. It's one made out of silicon gel.
As an archaeologist I wanted to recreate the coin and make a solid piece to show to the public and send to other researchers. While having this almost exact copy, the fragile original can be kept save. Thus, my goal is reached.
Edited by Archeo1982
04/07/2018 6:21 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Congratulations for being able to produce a nice replica. It does beg thee question though: If I was to buy a genuine original piece of this period, I would need to confirm it's authenticity. Several tests, both of observation and measurement, would be needed to confirm authenticity, before I would commit to a purchase, unless a trusted third party has already done this for me. That makes it very hard for a seller of unestablished reputation on ebay. A die struck replica would be very deceiving. The closer you get to reproducing the manufacturing method, the closer you get to faithfully replicating the original coin. |
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Replies: 15 / Views: 1,727 |
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Posted 02/06/2018 07:57 am
