Auction watching and came across a lovely coin that at first I thought must be a die match to mine, as both obverses look very much alike... maybe too much alike. So I did some searching. All these coins seem to have near exactly the same obverse, but the reverses all appear a bit different. Here's what I mean: My coin The one that just sold And a couple more I've found Am I paranoid or might these be cast fakes? All we purchased from top notch firms. Mine was Numismatic Naumann. The one that sold today was Leu. I would really appreciate thoughts from our professionals. Thanks in advance.
Me a few minutes ago: Me now: Thanks so much @TIF !!! Not that the one that sold today isn't nice, but it sold for 380€ and I purchased my super sweet fella for 220€. The wild coin-flation continues. To show my appreciation for your vote if confidence, in my paranoia, here's a coin I won this morning from the same auction with a bunch of Romans voting. I wonder what the graffiti is about?: P. Nerva, 113-112 BC. Denarius (Silver, 17 mm, 3.77 g, 6 h), Rome. Helmeted bust of Roma to left, holding spear over right shoulder and shield decorated with a horseman on left; to left, star. Rev. P NERVA Three citizens voting on comitium: one voter receives ballot from attendant below, another voter places ballot in cista; P on tablet above bar. Babelon (Licinia) 7. Crawford 292/1. Sydenham 548. Nicely toned. Some graffiti and banker's marks, otherwise, fine.
Very nice, as is the Philippus you posted. I agree with @TIF that the first two of those you showed aren't obverse die matches. And even if they were, it wouldn't mean they were fake -- 28 different obverse dies for the type is a comparatively low number (some Republican coin types have hundreds of different obverse and reverse dies). So finding a match would not be a rare event at all.
Thanks! And I really appreciate the reassurance. I blame mainly the fact that they are all off centered in nearly the exact same spot. That and, I believe it was @Curtisimo that pointed out, the Φ in the lower left of the obverseis kinda missing the bottom making them look less like Φ and more like little Roman baby makers
Nice coin! The first two coins are close, but with subtle differences on second glance, so they are not die matches, IMHO.
Tell me about it! The price I paid for a Faustina II denarius at today's Leu auction would have been inconceivable a year and a half ago.
Thanks so much! I can't tell you what a relief that is. It may very well be my favorite Republic denarius.
Even though these are not die matches it is remarkable how consistent this die engraver was in his/her style (assuming the same person cut these dies). This is one of my favorites of yours as well @Ryro . I look forward to seeing where it ranks in December.
