Tiberius Authentication Help

Mikey,

FYI the Nero you posted is a modern forgery.

Barry Murphy

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

They would really dig you with the shipping on that one.

 

Are you sure??

I purchased this from a VAuction sale (#320) of Triskeles 17 on September 16, 2016

 

I AGREE, point made. I'm sending your photo to Rick & Mark in hopes they hang it in the grading room.

 

Unfortunately, yes I'm sure it's modern. You can tell John I said so.

Barry Murphy

 

Not saying your coin is counterfeit; but its surface looks funny {besides the circulation/cleaning. Any chance of a magnified photo of the surface around the depression on the reverse. Need to see the crystallization pattern if there is one.

 

Check Forum, there are 20 from the same dies, same centering etc.... It's a well known cast, I've seen 3 in hand in the last month.

Barry Murphy

 

I guess this coin should be checked after all!

I agree that the coin does not look genuine. If it is a counterfeit, I cannot say if it is modern or not.

EDIT: Everyone here except me knows what "Forum" refers to. Is it in CT or another site. I should like to add it to my favorite places.

 

Just to back up what Barry said here's further proof: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/displayimage.php?pos=-12164

It's a "Toronto Group" forgery. I dunno a ton about these guys but I know they have made a good number of fakes over the years that have fooled many collectors and dealers. A good friend and mentor of mine lost a decent bit of money because of these guys years ago. Luckily now many of their fakes have been documented.

 

Even though I have a wonderful Tiberius Tet. I have been eyeing denarii of Tiberius more. Maybe I can get one next year.

My Nero Denarius

Nero (54 - 68 A.D.)
AR Denarius
O: NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS, Laureate head right.
R: IVPPITER CVSTOS, Jupiter seated left with thunderbolt & scepter.
Rome Mint (66 - 67 A.D.)
3.1g
18mm
RSC II 119, RIC I 53

Tet

Nero (54 - 68 A.D.)
AR Tetradrachm
SYRIA, Seleucis and Pieria. Antioch
O: NEPΩNOΣ KAICAPOΣ ΣEBAΣTOY, Laureate bust right, wearing aegis.
R: Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, with wings spread; palm frond to left, H/IP (dates) to right.
Dated year 110 of the Caesarian era; RY 8 (AD 61/62).
27mm
13.4g
RPC I 4182; McAlee 258; Prieur 82.

A wifey

Poppaea (63 - 65 A.D.)
Billon tetradrachm
O: NEPΩ KΛAY KAIΣ ΣEB ΓEP AY, radiate head right.
R.ΠOΠΠAIA ΣEBAΣTH, draped bust of Poppaea right, date LI right (year 10).
Alexandria mint 63 - 64 A.D.
12.5g
25mm
Milne 216, Curtis 132, RPC I 5275, Geissen 157

 

There was another fake Nero in that same sale... Was ended just before closing after I informed mr Lavender...

http://www.vauctions.com/ViewArchiveItem.asp?id=32718

 

Not to hijack this thread, I will simply mention that I have contacted John and appropriate measures will follow. Thanks for the 'heads-up' Barry, red and Dionysos and I suppose I should ALWAYS check the forgies registries, regardless of from whom or where I purchase coins.

As always, I appreciate your heartfelt sentiments as well Insider, since I'm certain you recognized it even before Barry did.

 

Sorry about that @Mikey Zee. I hate the "F" word with a passion.

 

Actually not. Barry caught it. I started posting at the top of the thread where the coin photo was. I just thought it looked cast but then edited "cast" out as most fakes are struck these days. After posting my suspicion and moving down the thread, I saw that Barry had already posted that he was positive it was a cast fake. That made anything I had posted moot and worthless. Barry is the expert and knew the answer - I'm not. I'm just a troll on the ancient forum.

PS The only way to determine how this fake was produced (cast or struck) would be its specific gravity (casts often contain trapped gas) and a microscopic examination of its fabric. I mean surface.

 

@Mikey Zee

Sorry your coin turned out to be a fake.

 

Mikey, that sucks, hope you can get a hassle free refund.

 

Keep us informed of the status

 

I bet you the thousands of little bubble marks on the surface of that Nero denarius would look like the surface of the moon under X20 magnification. In a way, it is fairly obvious from the pictures (soapy letters, very irregular field, and weakness in the reverse design). I'm surprised the auction house and this forum missed it. I would probably have missed it too as I doubt I'd have paid enough attention to the image. I'm saving the image in my personal list of known fakes to study further.

 

Sorry about your Nero Mikey. At least you bought it from a reputable dealer and shouldn't have any issues getting a refund.

 

I have been in contact with John and a refund is pending. Thanks for the sympathy everyone!! Needless to say, i prefer not to have to return coins even when a refund is forthcoming LOL