I noticed this coin in a platform auction for some time now, but I wasn't sure which coin was used as the mother to create it. Both Gillet and BCD coins were not a match. In the end, it seems they used a British Museum electrotype to do the job. The fake auctioned: The BM electrotype:
Unfortunately, I would prefer to avoid explaining why this is a fake. We do not need to train more forgers. Normally a collector willing to spend the starting 65000 euros should be able to recognize the reasons; or at least his/her numismatic advisor should know.
This one struck me as suspicious as well, even at a glance. While I am not an expert, I am seeing more than one big red flag here and would not bid even if I could afford to.
The coin is not ancient. It is a modern copy of an electrotype. Here is some more information about Electrotypes, courtesy of CT's @Severus Alexander.
Whether 65k or simply 6.5 is at stake, is it not all we here can do to point out to beginners that they do need to 'recognize reasons' and /or employ help that does? Usually this would be simply buying from a seller not famous for selling fakes but when you get to some point (like 65k) most people really need to be working with a suitable agent. IMHO no one should be buying coins with money that means life and death to their family. Some collectors I know can make 100k mistakes with no more pain than others of us do with even a 100 (euro/dollar/pound) error. I have no sympathy for those who are bidding at that level without either knowledge or professional help. Most of us risk the price of a meal for one person on the theory that we learn from the experience but each will define a 'meal' differently.
@gsimonel You can always find a coin at auction being discussed by going to any of the auction aggregators (sixbid, numisbids, biddr) and running a keyword search. But I’ll save everyone the keystrokes it starts with an ‘S’ and ends with an ‘olidus’
At first I watchlisted the top Abdera stater with some interest. After a closer look I too concluded the coin was highly suspect and it would get no bid from me. It’s reassuring to see @Barry Murphy agrees Also it is one thing to suspect coins but another to have a well known expert confirm it. Incredibly eye opening to see so many forgeries in a single sale from a known auction house who have been in business for many years. I guess buyer beware is the takeaway..
So this may be an ignorant question( probably is): Why do auction aggregators allow such an auctioneer to continue on their site? I would imagine most if not all auctions have a fake or two slip in on occasion or, if a large number of items a few per auction. But if there are so many fakes why not shut them down or note that they sell fakes?