Hello everyone! I’m new to the area of coin collecting, but dabble in collecting of other historical artifacts. I was given a small jar of coins from the estate of my great uncle. The other day I happen to be looking through the jar and stumbled on this. Based on my initial research it appears to be a Mark Antony legionary coin attributed to legion Viii. The coin measures 16-17mm across and 1-2mm thick and is slightly sloped. The coin weighs 3.12g. The dimensions and weight appear correct but I would like to ask the experts whether this coin is in fact a genuine MA legionary coin? Thank you!!
Thanks for the response. I looked around the entire circumference by eye and under a microscope and I don’t see a seam.
It could just be the image, but just from that I think there is something wrong. It looks pressed (for lack of a better word). Below is one from my collection for comparison. MARCUS ANTONIUS AR Denarius OBVERSE: ANT AVG III VIR R P C, Praetorian galley, thyrsos behind prow REVERSE: LEG VIII, eagle between standards Patrae 32-31 BC 2.96g, 18.1mm RSC 27; Sear 1479v; Craw 544/21; Sys 1225 Ex Agora; Ex Tom Mullally
I took this photo under the microscope. It looks like there is a different color metal under the edge in a few places. I scraped at the cooper colored area and it is silvery underneath. I’m not sure if this is a surface patina layer or a plating layer?
Both the style and fabric of the coin appear to be off. Hopefully your great uncle was aware it was a modern reproduction when he bought it and wasn't swindled. Though, the bronze coming through does make me wonder if it could be a modern fouree??
Also this. I noticed it in the first pictures but wasn't sure if it was just the picture or actually on the coin. It certainly looks like a different metal.
I probed it more and it seems like I can flake off a top silvery layer and uncover a coppery layer. Below the copper layer is another silvery metal. I agree that it’s not a legit example. Oh well… this has been a super fun learning experience for me. At least now I’m more prepared and interested in ancient coins! Thank you for all of the help.
The photo of that area certainly looks odd. With the coin in hand what I would say is that it is a bit of an optical illusion. There is a flattened area to one area of the coin which makes it appear that it’s a clear seam.
My opinion, which is worth the price paid, is that is looks cast. There appears to be a ground-off seam (?), soapy devices and legends, and outside of the dotted border looks slightly raised (rims) compared to the fields. It is possible that these things are optical illusions or artifacts of the photography. I have not checked various Fakes archives. Should go without saying but I will anyway: I'm not an expert.
@TIF I think you make very good points. The coin is quite smooth and I wonder if it’s been ground down to disguise poor casting or defects. Then a darkening effect was added to the field to accentuate the softened details. You are correct that there does appear to be a rim outside the dotted border that does not appear in the example posted by Bing. This border is difficult to feel due to the smoothness of the coin but easily seen in the picture. Do genuine coins only have the beaded rim? Are there other places I can learn more about the ways to spot real vs fakes? thanks!
My gut also tells me that it's a fake. The letters are too thick and cartoony, and the black deposits look applied. The coin also looks like it was deliberately distressed to look old and the flan looks too round. And yeah, the flattened area of the coin does make it look pressed to me. The best way to tell the real deal from fakes involves handling (best) or viewing (ok) as many ancients as you can. After a while, you get a good sense of the style of genuine versus fake coins, which is usually the best way you can tell something's off. Forgers these days have gotten really good at making the fabric of the coin look ancient, have access to the correct weights for different denominations and types and sometimes even use ancient slugs for striking new fakes so the metallurgy fits. It's a lot trickier landscape to navigate than a few decades ago. Throw in genuine coins which are tooled to look like rarer varieties and repaired coins, and you get a real minefield for the beginner. Even with a ton of practice and experience, it's still often difficult to be sure in some cases.
