My first fourre?

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Exodus_gear, Jan 21, 2020.

  1. Exodus_gear

    Exodus_gear Well-Known Member

    I believe I've come across my first fourree while restoring some of the coins I purchased recently. It is more noticable on the rev side than the obv. I tried to tilt the coin where it would catch the shine properly. Also on the top right of the rev side it's fairly noticable that some of the silver has fallen off and it is has left copper/bronze exposed. Though I could be wrong, Opinions?
     

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  3. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    That's not really a fourree. It's an antoninianus of Probus and they were made by the mint from billon with a surface enrichment process known as "silvering." Sometimes the coins are found with nearly all the silvering intact. Here's an example of one of Aurelian that was manufactured in this way:

    Aurelian ORIENS AVG antoninianus Rome.jpg
     
  4. Exodus_gear

    Exodus_gear Well-Known Member

    Oh nice that's even better, I know mine is not in the best condition but glad to know they were made slivered. Get to learn and research something new to me. Many thanks :)
     
  5. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    I don't think anyone here has seen a fourrée ant later than this one, which dates to 256 at the earliest (it's a “mule” of an obverse and reverse type that was never produced officially):

    Screen Shot 2020-01-21 at 8.07.02 PM.jpg
    Gallienus, joint reign with his father Valerian (253-260 CE; issued 256 or later). Fourrée antoninianus. Obv: GALLIENVS PF AVG, Radiate, cuirassed, and draped bust right. Rev: PROVIDENTIA AVGG, Providentia standing slightly left, holding wand over globe at her feet, and cornucopiae. 2.95g 20.5-22mm

    At this time the official antoniniani would have been composed of maybe 15-20% silver – not much different from a fourrée already! I guess plated counterfeits could have been barely profitable if skillfully made with a very thin foil, but one would expect them to be rare. After 260 there was so little silver that such counterfeits would have been pointless and impossible.
     
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2020
  6. furryfrog02

    furryfrog02 Well-Known Member

    That is a nice one! I picked out a Maximinus Thrax fourrée out of a junk bin last year. It is also a mule and has an reverse that wasn't produced on official coinage. I will see if I can pull up a picture when I get home from work, if anyone cares. I've posted it before too I think.
     
  7. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    I think it goes without saying that we do care and would love to see it, @furryfrog02!!
     
  8. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    My next latest fourrée ant is this somewhat scary lookin' T-bone:

    822599.jpg
     
  9. furryfrog02

    furryfrog02 Well-Known Member

    Here is mine. Totally bought it unbeknownst to me as to what it was. :)

    Maximinus I
    Denarius Forgery Fouree
    Obverse: Maximinus I obverse, IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG
    Reverse: Severus Alexander reverse, P M TR P VI COS II PP, Aequitas standing left with scales and cornucopiae
    Thrax.jpg
     
  10. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    I would love to know how these fourrees circulated in their day. Did the average man on the street just not know? Did they circulate only where real coins were unavailable? Did they supply monetary services at a discount to some subculture? Obviously there would be a variety of answers for various circumstances. My Gordian III denarius would hardly fool a blind man and has a very interesting reverse combining Pax and Aequitas.
    ro0630bb0213.jpg

    On the other hand I always felt the Decius had die work a bit better than the usual official coins. Before the plating broke, would it fool many? I believe this reverse was first used by Decius. The first fourrees were made the day after the first coins. Their makers must have been an interesting group of characters. Rather than another movie showing us the evils of emperors, I'd like to see a biography of a Roman counterfeiter.
    ro1240b01312lg.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2020
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