I would very much appreciate an ID on this coin. I know little or nothing about ancients so I need some help on this one, thanks. It's 30 mm in diameter and quite thick. Regards, Mike
I think it may be: Marcus Aurelius AE Sestertius. 163 AD. IMP CAES M AVREL ANTONINVS AVG P M, laureate head right SALVTI AVGVSTOR TR P XVII S-C, COS III below, Salus standing left offering a patera to snake arising from altar, and holding sceptre. Cohen 562/564. RIC 843.
It is either highly corroded or a badly cast fake. Looking at all the little bumps on it make it look like a cast. Where did you get it from? John
Just curious -- what would be the monetary incentive for creating a cast fake of a coin that's so badly corroded that it's essentially worthless unless it's a great rarity, which this doesn't appear to be? Even faking something like this would take a certain amount of time, and a forger's time -- no matter how brief -- has to be worth something. Especially given the opportunity costs. So I don't get it.
It is the core of a badly corroded coin, probably cleaned with acid of sorts. Nothing fake about it! Frans
I don't believe it's genuine. It's covered with obvious casting bubbles, and the devices are present, but soft and mushy like a bad cast. Normal circulation wear patterns are absent. Even corroded authentic coins will display wear at the high points and sharp angles where the devices meet the fields, indicating that the coin was struck. The real question is whether it's a contemporary or modern cast. There were plenty of counterfeiters in the ancient world, and their fake coins are actually desirable.
I defer to your expertise. But: you really think an ancient Roman counterfeiter would choose to create a fake Roman coin that's so corroded it looks like it's been in the ground for a thousand years?
My expertise isn't so great actually, compared to many other members of this forum. Perhaps someone with more experience would deem it authentic, but to my eyes the fabric is so questionable, I personally wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole.
I see no casting bubbles (recessed) but raised pimples which can be a sign of a poorly made transfer mold and equally fake but I believe this is a coin that was so harshly cleaned that it ruined the surfaces. I do agree that those who make fakes might make something this ugly before they learn how to do better. It can be hard to tell the difference between a real coin that has been poorly treated and a fake coin that was given the same abuse. I see no real matter here since the value is about the same ($0 to $10?) either way. We see rare coins in this or worse condition sold for those who can not afford a decent one but the value of this more common emperor is mostly in its educational value and not as a collectible. That is my point: I would not want the coin real or fake. I do not believe it possible to state that a coin is real just from a photo and there are other explanations for what I see here besides fake. I am not saying it is real and I'm not saying it is fake. Bing IDed the coin or the intent either way.
Hard to tell on this one. I suppose it could be genuine but very harshly cleaned. I picked up one of these of Antoninus Pius in the bargain bin for a few bucks one time.
Interesting discussion. Without any authority whatsoever, I am on the fence, but leaning towards it being genuine with conservation issues. I'm just not entirely sure about those pimples being from a casting. But maybe they are. Speaking of poor surfaces, here is a $9.99 sestertius of Antoninus Pius I recently obtained. It is also a bit underweight (although from time to time I encounter very broad-flanned AP sestertii that are a bit light - has anybody else noticed these?) I am fairly confident it is genuine, but I'm not going to bet the farm on it. Antoninus Pius Æ Sestertius (c. 158-159 A.D.) Rome Mint ANTONINVS AVG [PIVS PP T]R P XXII, laureate head right / [PI]ETATI AVG COS IIII S-C, Pietas draped standing left holding globe and child, to left and right two small girls standing. RIC 1002; BMC 2062. (17.34 grams / 34 mm)
First off, I want to thank everybody who voiced their opinions about my "treasure" I have no idea where I got it or when. I forgot to weigh it in my original listing and it weighs 16.9 grams. I never looked at the edge till now and it looks to have been filed or sanded all around. Also it may have been mounted at one time as there's signs of that as well. I'm very surprised it received so much attention. If anybody wants it just send my your address and I will send it to you. First come first served as they say. Regards, Mike
