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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;TIF, post: 3242822, member: 56859&quot;]Wow, that&#039;s quite a list!&nbsp; Good effort&nbsp; <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />.</p><p><br /></p><p>See also <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ancient-coins-beginners%E2%80%99-faq-thread.324858/page-2#post-3222342" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ancient-coins-beginners%E2%80%99-faq-thread.324858/page-2#post-3222342">https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ancient-coins-beginners’-faq-thread.324858/page-2#post-3222342</a>&nbsp; for links to resources teaching how to detect fakes, databases of fake coins, etc.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Warren Esty, aka CoinTalk&#039;s [USER=44316]@Valentinian[/USER]</p><p><br /></p><p>CoinTalk has an excellent search engine.&nbsp; It is a very good idea to first search for the seller by name here (only <b>after</b> you have checked the <a href="https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=18502.0" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=18502.0" rel="nofollow">Forum Ancient Coins Notorious Fakes Seller List</a> and <a href="http://augustuscoins.com/ed/fakesellers.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://augustuscoins.com/ed/fakesellers.html" rel="nofollow">Warren Esty&#039;s Fake Seller list</a>, otherwise we&#039;ll end up with a bunch of unnecessary posts).</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Bear in mind that a 100% positive feedback score does not ensure that the dealer is knowledgable or reputable.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>It depends on the coin type.&nbsp; Die matches are common among Roman Provincial coins.&nbsp; Sometimes you can even find die matches for one side to multiple reverses.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I&#039;m not sure I agree with this.&nbsp; Sometimes fakes are deliberately vague on certain details, and sellers push the coin as a lesser type, hoping someone who has just enough knowledge to be dangerous will think he has spotted a rarity that the seller missed.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Perhaps you&#039;ve made more of a study of this than have I, but it seems that almost any patina, oxide, or encrustation can be mimicked by an adept forger.&nbsp; Verdigris seems particularly easy to recreate.</p><p><br /></p><p>Although, in the absence of other diagnostic indications, &quot;artificial&quot; toning does not mean the coin must be fake.&nbsp; For an interesting discussion about toning see <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/can-you-define-artificial-toning.326929/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/can-you-define-artificial-toning.326929/">this thread</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I&#039;m not sure if this translates to coins which in most cases were buried for centuries.&nbsp; Various metals leach out; porosity can reduce weight beyond simple wear.&nbsp; Some series of coins do tend to be more consistent in their weight, particularly silver coins of greater fineness (Athens tetradrachm, for instance).&nbsp; Coins made with debased metal seem to suffer greater variations in weights due to burial conditions, if not also due to their starting weight.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>But bear in mind that the obverse and reverse dies wore out at different rates.&nbsp; A fresh obverse die may be seen with a worn reverse die, for instance, so you have to discern between die wear and coin wear.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>But keep in mind that flans are often cast, so remnants of sprues are perfectly normal on some coins.&nbsp; Some flans also underwent further shaping and preparation which cause tool marks (lathe marks on the surfaces; file marks on the edges), so you need to know the norm for flan preparation for the type of coin in question.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The ring test is generally not advisable because ancient silver coins are embrittled to various degrees and may be more fragile than you realize.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Worth saying again:&nbsp; At this point in time, no<i> third parties</i> offer guarantees of authenticity (meaning guaranteed authenticity of coins <b>they did not sell to you</b>).&nbsp; Having said that,&nbsp; all three of these entities are well respected and knowledgable.&nbsp; The best defense against buying a fake is always &quot;know the coin or know the seller&quot;.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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