Junk bin purchase

For years I have admired ancient coins but I had no idea how to start a collection. So recently when I was at my local coin shop I saw these two in the junk bins. I snatched them up right away thinking I could use them as a base for my collection. I also thought I could use them as a learning tool. After doing some research I still can't figure out what they are so as of today I'm done being stubborn trying to do this without help. I'm new to collecting ancient coins so identifying coins is hard for me right now. Does anyone have an idea of what these are? I realise they are from a junk bin and therefore they may not be recognizable. Any help is much appreciated and thank you for reading this!

 

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http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/maximianus/t.html

http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/tiberius/i.html

should be able to find the coins here

 

Ask the moderator to post this on the ancient coin forum. The top coin looks fake.

 

What makes you think that?

 

It looks like a typical cast surface rather than corrosion - lumps, "fatty" letters. Image of the edge should prove it. ANYWAY, let's get this moved to the correct forum so the Ancient collectors/dealers can help out the OP.

 

Thanks for posting, NLL! Stick with it and mark the date. I predict that one year from now you'll have an awesome collection. You'll be able to post jaw dropping before and after photos!

 

I hope so! I have to learn a lot before that can happen.

 

Welcome to the club! Ancients are fascinating once you get in to them. The second one looks like a bronze as or dupondius from Lugdunum, early 1st century or so. Might be authentic, just worn down, but I don't like to say for sure unless I have the coin in hand. Try searching "Lugdunum" and "Tiberius" or "Augustus" for pics of similar coins.

I also suggest picking up a copy of "Roman Imperial Coins" by David Sear. The current edition is pricey, but the last edition is available used for under $50 and still a very useful text. You can also view and purchase stuff at www.vcoins.com much more safely than on sites like eBay.

Feel free to PM me if you have questions. I still consider myself a noob to the field, but I sure enjoy it.

 

I agree. Sometimes corrosion can be mistaken with cast fake coins. Even more in worn coins like this.

 

...and this coin was cleaned, with patine's partial removal.

 

Welcome to ancients. If you haven't followed up on randygeki's clue above for coin #1, click here if you want a likely candidate: https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/an...mianus_198_follis__genius/676588/Default.aspx

Part of the challenge of identification is figuring out when the "name" part starts on the obverse legend. As you begin, you'll probably want to make sure that you collect coins with visible legends. You'll soon learn to ignore the "IMP" or "DN" abbreviations that often precede name legends.

As far as authenticity goes, I'm not sure why people are doubting the top coin. But I have been spectacularly wrong before. I just see it as a genuine follis in bad shape. And why would a faker bother to fake a $5 junk box coin? But I know that this logic has its limits, and that everything gets faked these days. But I don't see any reason to doubt the top coin.

Here's a good, but possibly overwhelming, guide to Roman coin attribution: http://romancoin.info/

 

It is a good return if you consider how little it would cost to make something that tourists might even pay more for. I can't say it is or is not a fake from the photo but my genuine Diocletian of the series was a bit over $5. I don't have an Alexandria XXI follis of Maximianus.


Another of the series is this Constantius I of Alexandria but this one is most definitely a counterfeit. There are casts of these and even clay molds used 'in the day' to make the things. Proving whether a fake was made in the 290's or 1990's is not always easy but I believe mine is a genuine ancient fake.


So how is that for an answer. You came with the possibility of real or fake and I throw in a third option: ancient fake. Sorry.

 

Doug's post reveals a number of factors to consider. I would hate for a concern over fakes to prevent someone from collecting ancients if they have a real interest. If you stay here long, you will see the advice to "know the coin and/or know the dealer." While nothing is foolproof these days, the dealers on VCoins are generally safe bets for the new collector looking to buy genuine ancient coins. And if you stay in the hobby long enough, you will develop your own expertise and networks to help guide your purchases with confidence.

 

Well that is discouraging to find out that my first coin purchase is fake! Thanks for letting me know though.

 

Excellent point by Doug Smith!
Since the silver contents on coins were too low or even absent on 3th-4th centuries, there was no point to forging coins by fourrée method, so people falsified them in clay molds.
Very curiously, these molds are most often found today in Scotland and Wales.
And specially, Constatine and Diocletian's follis coins (or others tetrarchy period coins).
So, that's true: the top coin in my opinion is really ancient, but I must agree that it can be, despite the bad conditions or a possible corrosion, an ancient fake...cool...!!

 

Maybe I'm thick, but I did not get that definitive assessment from Doug's post. I think Doug said he couldn't tell one way or the other from the photo.

 

No!! Personally, I think ancient fakes very interesting on the numismatic and historic points of view and very collectibles.

 

I couldn't agree more.