Lucius Verus, Sestertius (Cleaned)

That has many diagnostics of a cast fake coin . Notice the cracks which are only superficial (filled in). The metal looks wrong. The devices look soapy. Etc.

 

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What does the edge look like?

 

Edge looks like all off my roman coins!there's no cast seam in it..

 

Same patina..coin has a golden brown tone...called tiber patina..so if its fake...no big deal for me..

 

@ruud1301

Absence of a casting seam does not mean the coin cannot be a cast forgery. Casting seams can be filed down. Also, casting seams are not always present in coins created by the lost wax casting method, unless the forger didn't bother to remove the seam from the wax model. Lost wax cast coins have only a sprue and that can be filed down and disguised after casting. Keep in mind that some flans were cast so remnants of sprues can be seen on genuine ancient coins.

All other signs of falseness aside, consider the "cracks" on your Lucius Verus sestertius. Flan cracks created during the striking of a coin split the entire thickness of the coin. The "cracks" on this LV sestertius look more like scratches in the surface. The cracks are filled. That is a sure sign of casting.


"Many ancient coins have thin flan cracks or splits, easily visible to the unaided eye or with low magnification. A flan crack should show on both sides of a coin, passing completely through the coin and be visible on the edge of the coin. A flan split should come to a very fine point at it's apex. No casting method can capture the structure of a crack, or the ultra-fine point of at the end of a split. Only surface look of a crack will be visible and that fine point at the end of a split will be slightly rounded."

-CalgaryCoin.com article about cast forgeries​

From Forum Ancient Coins' Learn To Identify Fake Coins photo gallery, here's an example of a cast coin with tell-tale filled crack (12:00 on the reverse):


Evidence of Casting - Metal Filled Crack, Raised Edge on Rim, Soapy
The metal filled crack is a 100% certain indicator of a cast fake and makes this an obvious fake to even moderately experienced collectors. The raised rims on the obverse and reverse are sometimes found on genuine coins due to edge bumps, but are also common on cast fakes. The details are a little soapy, another indicator of a cast fake.

Here's another example of a cast fake with filled cracks, from FAC's Fakes Gallery:


Nero Cast Sestertius
Orichalcum sestertius, RIC 144, C 307, BMC 184, S 1962, VF, 26.572g, 34.0mm, 180o, Lugdunum mint, 66 A.D.; obverse IMP NERO CAESAR AVG PONT MAX TR POT P P, laureate head left, globe at point of bust; reverse S C, triumphal arch on top statue of Nero in quadriga, on l. Victory w/ wreath & palm, on r. Pax w/ caduceus & cornucopia, wreath in arch, nude helmeted statue of Mars in side niche. Filled cracks confirm this is a cast.

 

@ruud1301: Unfortunately, I agree with TIF's assessment of your sestertius. It is almost certainly a cast fake if that's metal filling the crack. Should be easy to test with some gentle probing with a hard tool.

 

Ok thanks for the info..

 

I go for a refund from my coindealer..many thanks!

 

Great detective work TIF ! I Wonder how much you paid for that coin Ruud.
Here's my 40 euro coin:





Also available in silver:

 

Paid 50 euro...

 

I cleaned out the crack..here are the pics

 

A sort of blueish green came out of the crack

 

I'm not sure what to say. The new pictures, although blurry, are somewhat reassuring but other signs of possible casting remain. Perhaps this coin should be examined by an expert.

 

I did...went to an roman coin expert in Amsterdam..this afternoon with the crack,its no cast fake,but thanks for your comment and doubts.size 30 mm and weight 22.2 grams are good.

 

Have you tried cleaning those cracks on those other other coins with "filled" cracks-- the Marcus Aurelius dupondius and the Antoninus Pius bronze? They have a similar appearance which is suspicious in photos, at least to me.

 

Cracks are deep and filled with dirt..

 

Cracks, test cuts, holes and others are often filled in. I recently had this tetradrachm not done too expertly:

 

Well?i have a good night sleep now!

 

All cracked up!