Hi guys, I’m puzzled by something, and hope to hear your thoughts on it. In the last the Leu Numismatik Web Auction, no. 30, that took place from 13 to 16 July 2024, there were several top quality copies of the well-known Tiberius Denarius from Lugdunum (the 'Tribute Penny'). Some of these copies were clearly struck with identical dies, both obverse and reverse. For example lot 1879 and 1880. And also lot 1881 and 1887. Of these last two coins, the identical dies are easily recognized by the die break on the reverse. One of these, I managed to acquire. Now am I wrong to think that it’s quite rare to find ancient coins struck with identical dies? And is it even more rare to find these in one auction? Or does this happen more often? Now of course I have been studying the coin that I acquired, the one with the die break, and I was all the more surprised when I discovered that a month earlier, on June 25, 2024, again a similar, and thus third copy was sold in the Tauler & Fau Selection Auction 145 as lot no. 80. Clearly the same dies again. This one is graded by NGC. So again, does anyone have an idea whether it is common to come across multiple copies of ancient coins – in this case three – that are struck with similar dies? And when they come onto the market in such a short period of time, what can be the reason for that? A hoard find? A collection that’s being sold? If this would happen with, for example, Dutch 17th and 18th century coins, I would be alarmed and think of possible forgeries. But with these Tiberius coins I assume that several knowledgeable people, including NGC, have thoroughly looked at them. And also my own copy, looks authentic. So are there other explanations? Anyone have experience with this? I'm really curious about your thoughts on this.
I admit, I've never really checked that for Roman coins. I know more about die matches in Dutch 16th-18th century coins.
I just found another one. Sold by HA.COM on May 15 2924. Lot #63088. So that makes four, sold within a couple of months. Surely there's something behind that, isn't it? I don't mean anything malicious, but it doesn't happen often, does it?
If that is the case, wouldn't you love to know more about that? I sure do. I mean, all copies are such good quality, I have looked at mine under a microscope, it just looks like no one has ever touched it. Definitely uncirculated so to say. So were they transported and lost as a complete batch, just after leaving the mint?
Die matches are not that unusual. If 2 or 3 of the same die matched coins show up on Ebay I would be concerned but Leu is a top tier auction house so there probably authentic. Do you want to hear an odd story about die matched coins? I purchased these two die matched coins at different times and from different dealers. What's unique about them as they are both double struck errors, with the same striking errors, made from the same dies. Most likely one struck right after the other. What are the odds of finding two matching error coins? Specimen #1 purchased on 05/02/2008 from an online dealer. Specimen #2 purchased on 11/19/2011 from a local dealer.
Usually a large number of coins with identical dies would imply that they are fakes, but these all look perfectly genuine and the auction house is top notch, so I wouldn't worry about it in that respect. Like others have mentioned, likely a hoard has surfaced where a number of coins minted closely together were hoarded and buried.
That is the only thing I can think of as well. I just would love to know more about it, because this must be some pretty brilliant hoard. It's the history of these coins that fascinate me. I can a imagine that a significant find of this type of denarii also might add to the scientific knowledge of Roman coinage, or even on how to date specific varaints of this RIC I 30. I sometimes get the feeling that a lot this info just doesn't become public for commercial or legal reasons. Which is a shame, a missed opportunity.
