When I look at this 'coin' I still find it difficult to believe I once thought it was the real thing... Yes, more money than sense, but in my defense it happened a long time ago. Luckily, I was able to get my money back, and got to keep the coin as well as a reminder. So all was well. Would this have fooled any of you? A few years later I had a chance to buy the real thing (and far cheaper than the fake!) NERO (54-68). Dupondius. Lugdunum. Obv: NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P. Laureate head left, with globe at point of neck. Rev: MAC AVG / S - C. Façade of the Macellum Magnum: statue facing on base within cylindrical tetrastyle entrance set on tiered base, upper tristyle story surmounted by ornate conical dome; two-story distyle porch on left, two-story tristyle porch on right. RIC 400. Post any coins that may have fooled you!
Well, I could've been easily fooled a year or so ago but now it would have raised some doubts just by the 'softness' of the details....and I think 'due diligence' would have convinced me to pass it by. I no longer have photos but I've been fooled three times since I returned to collecting and two were simply 'good fakes' that slipped through the cracks (by me and the auction sellers) and only obvious to those who knew precisely what to look for. The third was that Nero denarius I posted and that was mostly due to an unforgivable lack of scrutiny on my part---ALWAYS check them out and ask opinions. BTW: The seller of the fake Nero denarius (Triskeles) promptly credited the purchase amount as well as the entire cost of the returned postage.
I believe I could have been fooled, but I have to agree with @Mikey Zee , the softness would make me research it more. I was fooled with the following, but because there were many here who could not say definitively, I sent it off to David Sear. I too was able to get my money back and was told to keep the coin.
Claudius ... like Bing, David Sear gave it the thumbs-down, but I was also able to recover my money and keep the fake (all's well that ends well)
With just the photo and no comparison pieces, I should have passed on the coin with no comment. In many cases, when a coin is in such bad shape as the OP's, it is very difficult to authenticate. IMO, calling a genuine coin counterfeit is far worse than calling a counterfeit genuine. That's why the TPGS have the "no decision" option. Decades ago, several of the "Black Sea" pieces were sent out as: "Opinions of the consultants are divided" even though they were being bought and traded in the ancient market.
Mikey, I am glad all turned out well for you as well, and you got your money back on the Nero denarii and the other two as well. Due diligence was a bit more difficult in the pre-internet era. I guess this is partly the reason I was deluded. Just not data easily available to compare with. Now If i count the times that I have been fooled by clever tooling.....
Steve, I can safely say that I would have been fooled by that Claudius As as well. That obverse is real!
Bing, I am not sure I would have detected that one either, but possibly yes. The obverse has the same soft, soapy look as the Nero Macellum. I am glad you too were made whole again. As far as I know, I currently have no fakes in my collection...(except for one one that I will post soon).
Same here. But there is always a chance one has slipped by. I hope not of course. I've had a few, but I have been lucky in that they have been detected by some of the experts here on CT and on FAC and I've been able to get refunds. That one of Steve's I would have never questioned.
Steve coin could have fooled me also ( ). It did fooled others... https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1286293 Even the creators of acsearch... https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=2464231 (I was to one who sold that ***** fake to Steve)
Aahahaha, Dionysos => you absolutely rock, and that never stopped me from questioning your awesome coin-eye!! (you're still the best at spotting the fakes ... well, second best apparently) Oh, and thanks for being jump-to-the-pump and giving me back my cash (which I immediately put towards that sweet Boeotia Shield example!!) Yup, you're my favourite!! Cheers, coin-brother!!
This year I bought a Lysimachos fake drachma on eBay from an Australian seller, orignally marked copy under throne , but that was removed by the seller ? TIF recognized it as a fake (thank you very much) after some discussion bla bla seller refunded the purchase price including shipping.He never asked to return the coin.
This one fooled me until I tried cleaning it. All of the patina came off with a nylon brush. I got a refund, though. Still have the coin.
Hmmm...Andres, I know little about Greek coins and styles, but there is something about that coin which would have caused me to be double cautious. Can't tell exactly what is is that bothers me, but good thing this turned out OK for you!
