What do people make of this please? Ostensibly a bronze medallion from Mantinea circa AD130-137, weight 34.53g, circa 8.5 to 9 g/cm3.
If authentic it would be quite valuable ($20K?), as are all medallions of Antinous. I have no idea about the authenticity. More information might help. What do you know about this medallion? Who has it? Who is selling it? Size, weight, provenance, etc.
I bought it quite cheaply supposing it to be a fake from a dealer in Roman bits and pieces (including coins). I have given the size and weight (beneath photo). It is maybe a little off 12:00 in die axis. the density is consistent with bronze. Now I have it in my hands I am having a bit of trouble convincing myself it really is a fake.
NAC sold the example below for 27,500 CHF five years ago. Their example looks a bit off as well, but its possible they have the very same source. It's hard to accept that a $30,000 coin would be sold in the company of 'bits and pieces'.
When I checked ACsearch after reading the OP, I saw that coin. If I'd seen it offered by someone other than NAC or another biggie, I'd have laughed! I'd never have guessed it was ancient. Everything about its style looks modern to me, from the devices to the lettering. NAC certainly knows much better than me though .
I would think an authentic medallion such as that would sell for much much more. Both look painted (and modern) to me.
The trouble with my new coin is that the patina and the corrosion is amazing: I thought the style off in photos, but I can now see that a lot is explained by the corrosion and the NAC one looks worse stylistically than mine. It looks like a lot of trouble to fake it considering I paid only 50 Euros. I guess the balance of probability is that it's fake, but if so it's rather good with the subtle crack under the horse's front hoof etc. I think somebody has put some kind of surface stabiliser on it, but that isn't really something you'd do to a fake (unless you were being very clever of course - but why be so clever for 50 Euros?)
The Fake Coin Report coin is close to being a die match for my coin, although the flans are different shapes and mine has more wear and surface damage and is radically lighter. There are flan cracks in both cases and what looks like hammering flow near the left edge of the reverse of the Fake Coin Report item. So is the hypothesis that somebody is hammering these from fake dies and wearing and damaging some and aging them and tinting them for patina? Or is there a simpler explanation?
When forgers create multiple examples of their work they often ensure that there are slight variations, including flan shape, weights, diameters and others. Often they can make it more difficult by making slight variations to make it look like more than one set of dies. Honestly I like the surfaces and patina of your example, but I just dont like the style (or the NAC example for that matter). I just dont think there is much likelihood that either one are genuine. However since NAC sold that one as genuine and for such a high price you need to seek out more expert advice than we can give you here. Dont bother to send it to NGC. That will cost you money. Contact CNG (if you are in the US). They wont charge you for an opinion. Although it is highly unlikely you found a $30,000+ coin amongst 'bits and pieces' it has happened before.
Thanks, Ken. I am at well over 90% now that mine is a forgery and I was at about 75% to start with. I think you are slightly understating the degree of expertise available here. I don't mean to sound incredulous about the degree of trouble forgers are going to - I am just finding it quite fascinating. I may well take your advice in the longer term, but I feel I have got my 50-Euros worth out of this coin already. I should state for completeness that the person I bought the coin from also expressed general suspicion about it, so no fraud has taken place in my own transactions.
