bronze coins from pompeii excavation

Thanks a ton! I got them inside the ruins gift shop in Pompeii. The guy at the counter had a bucket of them they said they were selling to raise money for excavations. This was not a cart outside, this is the Pompeii gift shop in the archaeological site. He swore they were actual excavated coins. They don’t have “copy” on them, but I am not sure myself if they could be real.

 

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Interesting. I doubt the archaeological superintendent of Pompeii would allow excavated coins to be sold in a bucket outside the site. But if that coin is of Vespasian, he was emperor from 69 to 79, when Vesuvius erupted. It’s theoretically possible. It’s also possible that someone is selling very worn but genuine coins outside the site, or perhaps selling tourist fakes. I’m eager to see what others say.

Oh wait, I see you got them in the gift shop on site. Well, that might lend a much greater chance that they are genuine and authorized. Still surprising to me though.

If the Roman coin is genuine, in that worn condition it’s not worth very much, in my opinion. $50? Unless it’s a rare or scarce issue. If it can be proved that it’s from Pompeii, though, I suspect it would have a greater market value, but I’m not sure how one would go about proving that from the coin alone. But really, I should defer to first century coinage specialists here.

 

To survey a range of bronze coins of Vespasian and the range of market value, you can click on this search string here:

https://www.vcoins.com/en/Search.aspx?search=true&searchQuery= Vespasian ae&searchQueryExclude=&searchCategory=0&searchCategoryLevel=2&searchCategoryAncient=True&searchCategoryUs=True&searchCategoryWorld=True&searchCategoryMedieval=False&searchBetween=0&searchBetweenAnd=0&searchDate=&searchUseThesaurus=True&searchDisplayCurrency=&searchDisplay=1&searchIdStore=0&searchQueryAnyWords=&searchExactPhrase=&searchTitleAndDescription=True&searchDateType=0&searchMaxRecords=100&SearchOnSale=False&Unassigned=False

Of course, I am speaking as if Vespasian is the correct identification. I could be wrong.

 

When I was Italy, all of the coins in gift shops were cast replicas without “Copy” on them. Keep in mind that having “COPY” on replica coins is just a US law.

 

These were inside the site, not outside.

 

I can't find any coins that match the details of these in the list you posted. Has anyone seen coins like this that match the details shown in the pictures?

 

Here they are in inches, I dunno if I have a millimeter measuring device. But we have conversion tables. I don’t get an accurate weight, need a better scale. Thanks for everyone’s help so far, I am interested if these are truly genuine. If so, I wish I would have bought them all.

 

Unfortunately I believe the gift shop was lying to you about the coins. They look like modern cast pieces with filed/smoothed edges to remove the casting seam. Pitfalls like this are all too common, as the coins "look old" to non-ancient collector eyes and can become the foundation of an incorrect checklist of attributes used to evaluate subsequent pieces, making it easier for liars and swindlers to deceive new collectors. It's somewhat like the "Indian arrowheads" sold in gift shops that are merely modern sweatshop products from Mexico, India, Pakistan etc. which some assume are ancient and then likewise form an incorrect checklist of attributes used for evaluating other points.

Thankfully they were very cheap, and if nothing else are nice souvenirs that awaken memories of the visit to a legendary site.

 

Thanks, I posted a couple of close up edges just to make sure

 

Yeah, looks like marks from an electric grinding wheel, which makes sense considering they were probably making hundreds or thousands at a time for the shopkeeper to have a bucket full of them to sell inexpensively.

 

The good news is that there are plenty of authentic worn Vespasian bronzes that are quite affordable if you just want an authentic piece that was circulating at the time of the eruption. I understand that it is disappointing to learn that your good-faith was taken advantage of, but you seem to be taking it in stride better than most.

 

The only problem I see with them being cast pieces is there are no coins I can find that match these details.

 

Also, there seems to be small letters or something on the edges.. anyway, I figured they were fake, but I will call the site and ask for sure. My wife is saying there was a display on the counter at the check out that said they were authentic coins... who knows. I appreciate the advice, they are nice to look at.

 

Thanks a ton for everyone checking them out. They are certainly a great looking old hunk of copper that I will remember Pompeii by!

 

Almost looks like writing or some type of design on the side of the coins.

 

From 2011 but something to read.
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/tourist-fakes-the-quest-part-v-naples-and-pompeii.175779/

 

The Vespasian is close to a genuine sestertius type but the 'Greek' is far enough from a genuine style coin that I'd call it a fantasy. No one wants to believe what we say over and over. If you want real coins buy coins from specialist dealers back home rather than people who make a living selling an experience to tourists.

These Vespasian/Mars sestertii come in both left and right bust versions and with a variety of poses of Mars. Mine is a bit different and worn. CNG has sold many, all genuine.
https://www.cngcoins.com/Search.asp...R_TYPE_ID_2=1&SEARCH_IN_CONTAINER_TYPE_ID_4=1

 

I believe you guys . Just being thorough.

 

Both gift shop coins are forgeries.

Barry Murphy