What do you think of this? (No, I am not going to bid on it.) This coin is described as a "Double-Struck" Julius Caesar" coin and can be found at http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/silver-de...410224?hash=item3f71c0f330:g:gRwAAOSwnHZYWCi~
Looks neat. If it's fake, it's a good enough fake for me not to know any better. (Not that that's saying much.) The elephant is a bit strange-looking and crude, but for all I know, that could be a characteristic of some of the originals. I've never had one of this type, and have only examined one in hand briefly at a show. Anyone who would think of bidding should proceed with caution, of course, but I'll be interested to hear what those with more knowledge have to say about this one. The seller is totally unfamiliar to me.
I think a creative forger took a bad fake and tried to make it less detectable by striking it multiple times (or by pressing it in a mold a couple of times, if cast). If someone has the time and desire, I wonder if a single-struck version can be found in any of the forgery databases. For ease of searching, here are the conjoined images with rotation changed to better visualize the elements.
I tend to agree with TIF. That's the most bizarre depiction of a JC elephant that I have yet seen.....
It's certainly wild. I don't see how it can be authentic, since a second strike strong enough to leave a clear elephant and priestly implements would have all but obliterated the first one. I think I would buy it for the right price, but that price would have to be very low, indeed.
Once the price went past 50GBP it was already more than I was prepared to 'gamble'. (I dropped out at 25GBP.)
I can understand buying a replica for a few bucks as a place holder. I think the OP coin is just plain ugly. FWIW, here is a genuine flip-over double strike. Unlike the OP coin, the style, fabric and wear on this piece all point to a genuine ancient.
Die match for sale on eBay right now? http://www.ebay.com/itm/142234305177?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
