This Vitellius Sestertius is rather light at 19,5 gr and small at 32 mm. There are more casts than originals of this type around. I don´t see any real sharp detail and what looks to be an odd wear pattern plus little holes (casting bubbles?) on the obverse. What do you think?
I hope it's authentic! @Julius Germanicus ! It's a nice looking coin. I'm not an expert and unless it came from a trusted authority, I would never be comfortable adding it to my collection. If it's fake, it would make a nice flipping coin!
Cast - the devices look mushy and rounded. It looks soft and just “feels” like a cast. Especiallly the reverse. Just my opinion.
It's cast. There is much left-over residue in the fields, the details are 'mushy' and plenty of casting pimples all over, both sides.
I am firmly in the "cast" camp on this coin. The detail appears soft with no real sharp transitions as even a worn authentic coin should have and the edge appears to have had some work done to hide signs of casting. I would send it back regardless of the source.
The appearance is not that bad - based on appearance on the picture alone it could go either way. However, that is a very scarce type for sestertii of Vitellius and that alone would make me suspicious. Also, it is much too light. Sestertii of Vitellius tend to be massive. I have 3 of them (all low grade, or course), and all weigh over 25 grams. That to me is a good indication that something is not right.
No expert here. But the details look soft and cast-like. But the seam seems pretty good, which is the only thing holding me back from saying "clear fake." But seams can be filed.
An aftercast..... Compare with these. The latter one described below:- Unsigned cast bronze medal after G. Cavino, 32,34mm; 20,20g. Obv/ Laureate draped bust facing right Rev/ Honos and Virtus standing facing, Honos bare-headed, half nude half draped, holding long sceptre and cornucopiae, resting l. foot on dolphin; Virtus, helmeted, in military dress, hodling parazomium on knee and long spear and with r. foot on tortoise. corresponds to a sestertius issued in AD 69, RIC 113; Cohen 38 offered at auction of a collection of Paduan medals, Kunker Auction 257 (October 2014)
Thank you everybody for your help! Luckily I did not buy it yet (live auction is tomorrow and there are some bids already!). The coin is nice in hand and looks more "genuine" than my old Paduan of that type (seen below)... ... but still I´d rather have a genuine Sestertius of his - the last Sestertius missing in my 12 Caesars Portrait Series (now 10 Sestertii plus provincial bronze of Otho and As of Vitellius).
