Brutus coin

Scored this coin in a lot of 6 for $30. Weird thing is he specifically identified all but this one, just called it a republic denarius.

Here's the ebay link;
https://m.ebay.com/itm/LOT-OF-6-ROM...RARE-/222859997979?txnId=0#vi__app-cvip-panel

 

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From Cypress 97.6% approval and 5 reviews calling out fake coins...hmmmmm don't get me wrong, good luck and I hope it is real.

 

...and the seller is on Forum's Notorious Fake Sellers List.

 

I figured as much, I think some are real though.

 

The people here are pretty good at attributing fakes, post some more pictures including the edge and diameter (mm) and weight.

 

Real nice coin, if real?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

 

I'll try to do that when I get a chance. I pretty much figured it could be fake with that seller and the price, but still bought thinking fake anyways, $30 didn't really mean anything.

 

I don't know enough to say one way or another but there is a possibility that it is authentic. Not sure anyone will be able to tell you with certainty based on images alone, unless a known fake matches it.

If authentic, it's like this one (from CNG's archives)


Brutus. Early 42 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.79 g, 1h). Military mint, probably at Smyrna. P. Cornelius Lentulus Spinther, legatus. Securis, simpulum, and sescepita / Capis and lituus. Crawford 500/7; CRI 198; Sydenham 1310; RSC 6. VF, toned, a few bankers’ marks in obverse and reverse fields.

 

The probability that the OP coin is genuine is vanishingly small -- probably less than .000001%.

Brutus denarii of this type, with any of the legend BRUTUS readable, sell for a minimum of $400 even in poorer condition. Any honest EBay seller would know this and not sell it as part of a $30 group.

 

It's all a ploy that we've seen before. One rare coin in a lot misattributed in the hope people think they've discovered something nobody else saw.

 

..there's the excitement of the possibility that it is authentic.. $30+ for that high..+ some coins...i hope its real for ya too!

 

The mathematician in me feels compelled to point out that it's a better investment to spend $30 on lottery tickets for the megamillions than to buy this lot in the hope that the Brutus coin is genuine.

 

That was true several years ago but in the past few years a large hoard of these types has been disbursed in the market and is still being disbursed. An EF example can be had for $1500 or less with some patience. This example, if authentic, probably holds the title of "worst known" and I can't see many buyers wanting it at any price. I honestly would not be surprised if it we're genuine but even at $30 I'd feel like I was overpaying.

As far as whether or not its actually genuine, it may well be but it was sold by a fakeseller and neither the fakeseller nor the current owner have provided a picture I'm actually comfortable weighing in and at any rate given the seller's reputation I'd send the coins back and spend my money with someone who isn't on every fakeseller list on the net.

 

Kinda sounds like the ancient version of the "Un-searched Penny Roll with Indian Head Showing" scam. Just so happens, the fake, un-attributed coin is the Indian Head in this analogy (of course, it's the most desirable of the bunch). I really hate scummy scammy people!

Especially fishy that he's capable of attributing the others, and not one that clearly says "Brutus" across the bottom.

 

Here are pages 1 and 3 (I skipped page 2 since it had no coins of the correct type) from ACSEARCH, starting with the least expensive coins, that fit the search criteria "brutus denarius spint."

There are three coins of the OP type in this list, the cheapest being $133 (not including buyer's fee) with no readable BRUTUS, and the second and third cheapest being $450 and $461, resp., not including buyer's fee. I leave it to the readers to formulate their own conclusions about the possibility that the OP coin is authentic.

 

Mine came as part of a lot of 25 fourrees I bought from an estate thirty years ago. At that time there were few specialist collectors of fourrees and one died. I believe the dealer handling the estate was a bit embarrassed to handle them. At that time I assigned values to the coins that added up to the total ranging from $2 to $50. This got $45.

I prefer the fourree.

There is one other thing. Dealers who have made the fake seller's list do not deserve our support even if they happen to be selling a genuine coin. Send someone else's kids to college.

Ides is being gentle here. He could have used more zeros.

 

There is 0% chance the Brutus is real. The seller is knowledgeable enough to list Julia, Gordian III etc. but he hasn't heard of Brutus? And the name is spelled out on it in big letters? Hmmmmmm..........
Anyway, I have one of these, closest thing i'll get to an EID MAR, it even has a knife on it!

As far as value is concerned, here is one that just sold at Roma. Porosity and cracked, 1,800 GBP plus juice.

 

I ABSOLUTELY agree with this viewpoint. No known seller of fakes should ever be supported. This seller is not an honest dealer who made a mistake -- he's consciously and purposely misrepresenting and selling fake ancient coins.

 

Agreed. This Seller is WORSE than the "bait-and-switch" approach. This is a "bait-and-steal" mindset in my opinion. Pure "innocent approach" DECEPTION.