I just bought a couple really nice slabbed US coins from a dealer named Tony. He had just purchased these ancient looking pieces. I am not qualified to discuss whether they are real or fake. I thought it would be nice to post the coins here & introduce Tony to CoinTalk here. I took these two photographs free-hand at his bourse table. I don’t have the coins now so I don’t have access to take additional photos. I have sent Tony an Email with a link to this thread so that he can benefit from your advice about these ancient looking pieces. You will note the “S” which is stamped onto most of them. I told Tony that I would post the following Websites for his use. These two Websites discuss fake ancients and provide a good resource for looking up common fakes: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?board=9.0 http://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/index.php Since he buys similar ancient items from Ebay, I also referred him to the notorious fake sellers list: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=18502.0 Finally, since he buys raw coins on Ebay, I would like to refer him to www.toolhaus.org to research feedback on all Ebay sellers. Tony & I look forward to your comments. Of course, I hope that Tony signs-up to CoinTalk so he can add to this thread. Very best regards, collect89
Very nice. No idea if they are fake or not. Yet, when something looks this good, especially a few at once, well ...... Maybe I should be a bit more optimistic.
I'm not really qualified either but they look great! Does the Corinth stater have an "S" punched on it as well.
Those are stunning!! Except I dont think they are real...but cheer up I'm less qualified then you on Ancients
Hello Randy, The top right piece (Corinth stater) is the only one without the "S" punched into it. When I snapped the 2nd photo, I turned each coin over as though each coin had medal alignment.
The Leontini tetradrachm in the upper left would be worth around $12000 if genuine. The Corinth stater and the Istros drachm (upper and lower right side, respectively) are the only pieces that I'm familiar enough with to say the style is odd. But in any case, the S mark should scream reproduction. Die match for Gela tetradrachm (top center) http://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/displayimage.php?album=search&cat=0&pos=14
The style looks wrong on all of them. I imagine the "S" (clearly modern and not a period countermark) is meant as a signature by whoever made these reproductions. As such, they're not meant to deceive, merely to recreate these ancient coins in a more personal, modern design.
Hey folks! Did a little digging and according to this article: http://rg.ancients.info/replicas/ the "S" counterstamp is the mark of Antiquanova (Petr Sousek), a Czech replica maker. Hope this helps to catalog them. From their own wesite here is the Olympia Stater: http://www.antiquanova.cz/en/olympia-elis-stater-silver-coin-replica-452-432-bc?ItemIdx=22&id=1220 From what I see these are high quality, valuable reproductions of great classic coins.
Good answer & thank you very much. If Tony signs up here at CT then he can say thanks in person. Very best regards, collect89
This maker is well known and respected in terms of quality product. As I recall he offers most replicas in .999 silver and much cheaper tin with both struck from the same dies. At one point (still???) I believe the tin ones were available unmarked since anyone buying a $1000+ coin should be aware that a tin one is not real (actually that is a higher than appropriate view of some people who spend $1000 without thinking). There is room for opinion on whether someone making and marking good replicas is a fine artist or a dangerous felon. US law may require they be marked with the word copy but Czech law undoubtedly accepts the bold S signature as sufficient. These make excellent jewelry. Old saying: If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
