I received a National Geographic publication, “Hidden London, Digging Through the City’s Buried Past” for Christmas. On page 39, it cited “Roman pottery coin-forging molds” that they dug up from the mud. It was said that these pieces were used to make contemporary counterfeit coins from emperors “Trajan to Gallus, AD 98 to 253.” Has anyone ever seen any of these molds or any products from them? The magazine had pictures of four molds to make cast counterfeits.
Here's a link that you might find very interesting. The article includes images of some coin molds: LINGWELL GATE ROMAN COIN MOULDS – BY EMILY TILLEY, COLLECTIONS FACILITATOR FOR ROMAN ARCHAEOLOGY https://www.yorkmuseumstrust.org.uk...ollections-facilitator-for-roman-archaeology/
an example of the product: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Broken_cast_denarius_sev_alexander_(FindID_513001).jpg
Among collectors, the irregular cast denarii of this period are sometimes called "limes" issues, an appropriation of the obsolete term limesfalsa. Their status is controversial. Academics tend to classify them as simple counterfeits but a minority see in them a semi-official 'emergency' coinage. They are relatively common.
I wonder if some of the "limes" denarii were struck, rather than cast. Here's a coin that I picked up earlier this year, as a post auction remainder lot (didn't attract any bids). Marcus Aurelius, AE "limes" denarius, AD145-160. Acquired from Roma E-Sale 100, lot 1100. 3.40 grams This coin could be a high quality cast, but I am more inclined to think it was struck from leftover dies. The portrait as well as the reverse are quite nice for this type.
