Hurray for Fourrées!

I have two such ancient forgeries. Here's my first and favorite:


Roman Republic fourrée mule denarius
L. Antestius Gragulus, 136 BCE, and C. Renius, 138 BCE
ancient forgery, 3.18 gm
Obv: Roma helmeted head right, * below chin, GRAG behind
Rev: Juno Caprotina in a biga of goats, C・RENI below, ROMA in exergue
Ref: Obverse S.115, Cr.238/1, Syd.451, RSC Antestia 9; Reverse S.108, Cr.231/1, Syd.432, RSc Renia 1

Since the exact circumstances of its origin are unknown, I wrote a short fictional story about how this coin may have come to be
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/mule-or-goat-both-gragulus-renius-fourée-denarius.270214/

 

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My Fourees were graciously given to me by friends. I would not typically purchase them.

Would anyone have a clue of whom this is a Fouree of?

RI Fouree Denarius

@Mat gave me this one:

RI Julia Domna 194-217 Fouree AR Plated Den Isis Horus

Kinda cool that it matches a coin that I already have!

RI AR Den Julia Domna 200 CE Felicitas Isis Horus RIC 577

 

Just returned from Brazil, I can try to find the original CNG listing but I don't have the coin yet so I can't photo it. As soon as I get it, I'll post a cell phone pix of it and eventually will make a high quality photo of it. To answer you q; yes it's of a double siglos although your avatar appears to be a single siglos?

 

Great => Gallienus, I look forward to seeing your photos

Yes, my previous avatar is a mere Siglos ...



... oh, but I'm about to change my avatar to something else

 

I am big collector of fourees as well. here is a pic of my second to last purchase of 2016. early Macedonian King Pausanias, there is more fourees than solids with these I believe.

 

Severus Alexander with Annona Avg reverse

 

Thank you VERY much Doug!

 

That one seems to be an ancient counterfeit. However, be aware that in some eastern regions women are often adorned with gold coins in jewelry. (You may have seen belly dancers with belts with jangling coins.) So, for centuries there has been incentive to make "coins" that appear to be gold but are less expensive--not too fool people by spending them as real gold, but just to make jewelry that cost less. Some of the "gold" fourrees seen today are 2-3 grams which is too low to have fooled anyone hefting them. They have been made for centuries. Some gold fourrees are ancient. Many are not, but also not modern counterfeits made to deceive.

 

Gavin => Warren might be correct? (who knows?)

... but this is the Seller's notes that I received from Ardy and the gang at CNG ...

Nicephorus II Phocas, with Basil II.
Fourrée Histamenon Nomisma
Constantinople mint
963-969 AD
Diameter: 20 mm
Weight: 2.85 grams
Obverse: Facing bust of Christ Pantokrator
Reverse: Crowned facing busts of Nicephorus II, wearing loros, and Basil II, wearing chlamys, holding patriarchal cross between them
Reference: Cf. DOC 2; cf. Füeg 2; cf. SB 1777
Other: 6h … Fine, plating worn through

From the E. E. Clain-Stefanelli Collection






Ahahaha => hey gang, apparently I "do" have an example from the Gloria Estefan Collection!! (sweet)



... man, it never gets old ...

 

finally got it when I returned to the US. This a double siglos, was ex-CNG. Actually I always wanted a real double siglos (also known as Crosseids) but have always been outbid on them.

 

Who posted the image of the halved New Style tetradrachm fourree? I would like to use the image in an article and wish to request permission.

 

What a fun thread to dig up! For doing me the favor I will tell you it says right above the post that it was @dougsmit.
Seeing some of these beauties really makes one wonder, how many unseen fourees are hanging out in our collections and museums covered up just enough and weighing just though that none of us are the wiser?
To keep it legit, here is a Nerva fouree that has bronze disease. I'm fighting it...but dang it all, the disease is under the silver

 

I always request a copy/link of articles using my images. If the article is part of a huge book, we can skip that but I have received books in the mail that used only one of my coins before so I ask. This is the latest version of that coin. I bought the coin from Reid. It is still on his page.
http://rg.ancients.info/owls/fourrees.html

 

Nice photos Doug - focus stacking?

 

Sensational photo!!! In awe, truly. I need to save up and legitimize my coins with some descent photos. But boy-O, your photography makes for such delightful viewing. As always.

 

Yes.

 

Coincidentally, when this thread came back up I had just done my first blog post, which happened to be on fourrées!

Includes my favourite one, as far as I know the last known fourrée from the third century crisis before debasement made fourrées uneconomical:

Gallienus, fourrée antoninianus (mule) produced c. 256-260

 

Mac, welcome to CT!

 

I believe Mac is preparing this article for Koinon 2, so I will happily send you a copy, Doug.

 

I have liked fourrees for a long time. My site about imitations was first posted in 2002 and occasionally improved since then:

http://augustuscoins.com/ed/imit/

Here is one Roman Republican piece:


18 mm. 10:30. 3.34 grams.
90 BC. Vibia 9. C. Vibius C. F. Pansa (Crawford 342/2)
plated piece of superb style and nearly full silvering
Pan head right, PANSA below
/bearded Silenus head right, C VIBIVS C F below (off flan)
Crawford notes only two dies; it is very rare. I wonder if all specimens are actually plated. The style of this one is extremely close to the "official" ones pictured.
References: Banti, Vibia 22, 23d.