Rough Surface vs Cast Bubbles

One of the main features coin experts use to determine a coin's authenticity is the surface. However a lot of people who are newer to collecting ancients (including myself) have a hard time distinguishing between a rough surface of a genuine ancient coin and the tell-tell bubbles that give away a coin as a cast fake!

I thought it would be fun for some of us to post photos of a coin and the group can weigh in on wether it is casting bubbles or rough surface. Feel free to include example of any kind including horn silver etc. my hope is that this thread will turn into a good resource for people who want to learn to better spot cast fakes. I'll go first but please excuse the poor photo! I'll get better at the photography eventually

 

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It's a good idea for a thread. Cast coins do not always have the characteristic bubbles. The OP coin of Elagabalus looks very cast to me because of the softness where the devices and letters meet the field, and the "cragginess" of the surfaces. These kinds of micro-fissures can occur during the cooling stage of a cast coin. The appearance is very different from the natural reticulation that can occur on ancient silver.

 

I haven't had the misfortune of purchasing a cast fake to date. I'm still numb from a bad experience with some tooled coins. Great topic for discussion, Curtisimo!

 

Keeping with Elagabalus. But this one I go with rough surfaces instead of being cast.

Yep its pretty crappy.

 

So the coin I attached was actually the first ancient I bought. I bought it from a reputable coin seller on Vcoins. The only thing is I don't disagree with anything you said. The surface does look like it could be cast from all I've read but I honestly can't tell!! Here is some more terrible pictures. These are 16x magnification.

 

It does look soft, but I wonder how much of the "softness" is a result of the image and not the coin. I certainly can't be certain, but I think the OP coin is genuine.

You said it's crappy, and I agree on some levels, but disagree on others. The surface is very rough, but that's a fabulous reverse and scarce I believe. Not a cast fake IMHO.

 

I suppose those surfaces could have been caused by natural forces - perhaps the coin was buried in acidic soil and the base metals in the alloy leached out of the silver over time. At any rate, it's not the sort of coin I would buy just because I would always be wondering whether it was genuine or not.

 

How about this one where the obverse and reverse surfaces are very different, purchased from a very reputable dealer.

 

@Bing no its not fake but yes the obverse is very rough.
Got it with a small lot, my Licinius I came with it.

I may have to do a little more research on it. Not sure the scarcity of it.
It's pretty difficult to read.

 

To throw in my half cent worth opinion on the OP. At first glance I thought a little rough. I think it's real though.
The lighting & photo makes it difficult to be certain.

 

Obv.: IMP CAES M AVR ANTONINVS AVG
Rev.: PONTIF MAX TRP

 

I do think some of it is unfortunately my poor photography, which is a work in progress I believe it to be genuine rough surface possibly due to what you mentioned. I only say that because the weight and density are both in line with other examples. It's actually been really fun and inlightening experience to dig in to authentication techniques after having this coin all this time! One reason I thought it would be a cool thread.

 

I have the reference for your coin if you are interested

 

This coin immediately came to mind when this thread was posted

 

That type has been high on my want list.
(I want a cool owl)
IMO they're not that much different in fabric from obv to rev. I've definitely seen much more porous.

Since this type is high on my radar, I'd like to know the verdict on Bings coin there. And the why & why nots!!!

 

My turn. Real or fake?

 

All of you are my mentors. I'm always interested!!!!!!
I searched wildwinds a few days ago it is listed there. But it's as far as I got.

 

Fake. To smooth on the surfaces
Edited because I dropped my tablet. Is that casting bubble on the Rev legs?
Wishing I had a bigger screen handy

 

This one looks cast to me. Especially on the reverse above the outstretched arm. Also the patina doesn't look quite right.

 

Now I have to go trolling thru Bings threads to find it, lol.