Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Insider, post: 2663544, member: 24314&quot;]<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie11" alt=":rolleyes:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> I&#039;ll answer for my wife who tried to <b>complement you</b> for actually answering the OP&#039;s question about measuring the THICKNESS of a coin. I think you gave a good answer.&nbsp;&nbsp; [USER=51347]@Alegandron[/USER].</p><p><br /></p><p>For coin authentication, I never measure the thickness of a coin&#039;s <span style="color: #5900b3">relief design</span> as it is unnecessary due to many variables.&nbsp; I do measure the thickness of its rims and the coin&#039;s diameter on a suspect coin.&nbsp; BTW, I measure the diameter in four slices - each 45 degrees.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>As for ancients, I <b><span style="color: #ff0000">never</span></b> bother to check the thickness or the diameter of an ancient coin as IMHO they are too irregular.&nbsp; We all know <span style="color: #5900b3">an ancient coin&#039;s weight can be very important. </span>I have read that Becker was not too careful about the weight tolerances of his fakes.</p><p><br /></p><p>As for specific gravity testing - IMHO, it is just as important for the authentication of ancients as the coin&#039;s weight.&nbsp; That&#039;s why IMHO <span style="color: #5900b3">it is relevant</span> (more so than thickness or diameter) to all our collections.&nbsp; It may save some unwanted surprises later. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie46" alt=":facepalm:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>Unfortunately, for us in this present day, the quality of many fake ancients matches anything we can discover by measurement including metallurgical testing.&nbsp; I&#039;m sure all of you know that the great counterfeiters have been melting genuine coins for material to make their product for decades.&nbsp; An interesting, first hand account written in the late 1960&#039;s by Admiral Dodson, a very distinguished ANA member, describes his experiences with counterfeiters (Garyphallakis and Christodoulos) and illustrates many of their wares he purchased while visiting the &quot;old country.&quot;&nbsp; Dodson provides evidence that the dies and many counterfeits were returned to the family when the Greek government lost a case in court.&nbsp; Sorry, I&#039;m off tract.&nbsp; What I wish to say is even back then the &quot;master counterfeiters&quot; got the weights correct and used ancient metal from genuine coins to make their products.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>PS Thanks for the &quot;heads-up&quot; to the member who wrote about the NY firm selling &quot;<i>Becker the Counterfeiter.</i>&quot; <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie50" alt=":happy:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in