Just picked up a few study pieces. These were purchased from Russia. All three are modern fakes. But there is a distinction to be made between those meant to deceive and those produced to be honestly sold as replicas. First, a pair of British halfpennies. These are relatively crude in the details, but still good enough to fool many novice and even some intermediate collectors. They are usually sold as genuine or thrown in with groups of other coins where they get a pass by association. Second, a 1797 "cartwheel" 2 pence. Compared to the first two, this coin has less crude transferred details, convincing patina and is the correct size, weight and material. This coin, if the manufacturer intended, would be much more dangerous than the first two, as it would be more convincing and also a much more expensive coin. And yet, this coin was made specifically to be sold a an honest replica. It was made with a glaring difference that would both prevent people from getting fooled and discouraging anyone from selling it as genuine due to a high probability of getting caught. The date and legends are in relief, while genuine examples have it incuse.
One question, how do ya know they are modern fakes ? edit - as opposed to old or contemporary fakes is what I am asking
For one they were sold as modern copies. Also that blue-gray patina on the halfpennies is common on Russian and Easter European modern copies. It's some chemical they use and then heat the coins to artificially age it. I do think they would probably pass as contemporary if advertised as such - a fake of a fake
Thank you Those are the kind of details that help people learn, but that are often forgotten (fail to be mentioned) by those who have already learned, when discussing such things. As with most things in life it's the little things, the bits and pieces of information, that add greatly to the importance and completeness of the whole
