bronze coins from pompeii excavation

Thanks a ton guys. I am not disappointed, just a bit unclear still because there appear to be marks of people or symbols on the edges of the coin that I wouldn’t understand someone trying to forge them would grind off. I can’t get the pictures clear enough, but I see them clearly with a magnifying glass. I am very glad to have found this site as I have been collecting rare and unusual coins my whole life. Trust me, I believe you guys, and am very appreciative.

 

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Yes, sorry to say, this is all too common in situations like this - Doug is right-on (as usual) in his comments and recommendations.
I ran an antique shop with a sideline showcase of ancients for about twenty years. In that time I was shown literally hundreds of similar treasures (mainly by those hoping to sell them, of course) which had mainly been passed down from an older generation's military or tourist relations and had passed into family "history" as the fantastically valuable ancient coins Uncle Dudley brought back from Italy, "He was in the war, see..." then the velvet Crown Royal bag would be reverentially produced, the coins unwrapped from tissue paper, and once again I would have to deliver the news that virtually all those "fantastic opportunity" acquisitions had been garden variety scams.
In 20 years, only once did a similar scenario yield an actual, authentic ancient coin - but wow, did I get a good education in "detecting" tourist fakes and museum gift shop items.

Exceptional only for being authentic and in the hands of someone who knew nothing about ancient coins:
Roman Provincial, Cilicia, Anemurium,
Valerian I, 253-260 AD. Æ 27mm, 8.97g, 6h.
Obv: AV K ΠO ΛI OVAΛЄPIANON. Laureate draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rx ANЄMOVPIЄωN. Mummiform cultus-statue of Ephesian Artemis standing facing, holding branch and sistrum; at feet left and right, stag and dog; (ЄT B ( = yr. 2 = 254/5 AD.?)
Lindgren 798; SGI 4485; Cf. SNG Levant 513

 

Sorry I came to this thread late, but Barry nailed it. It makes no sense why an official 'gift shop' would lie like that. It sounds more like a huckster trying to make a quick buck!

 

I agree, and it was the official gift shop with a sign up at the counter.

 

Sounds like the "real" trading posts along old Hwy 66 in western NM and East Ariz.. When Flagstaff has the 'Pow Wow" , the fakes roll out although many are replicas made by real members of the local tribes, so it gets confusing, Would love to See Pompeii. Jim

 

Either way, I was sold fake coins as authentic by the staff working in the archaeological site, in front for everyone to see, so be ware!! Pompeii is a lie!

 

Well, I still have a soft spot in my heart for Pompeii. But maybe the gift shop should be taken with a grain of salt.

By the way, if I had to choose between Ostia Antica and Pompeii, I would take Ostia. In the off-season, you pretty much have an ancient Roman town to yourself.