u/QuickSock8674

There's a cast fake of coin depicting Antinous (close "friend" of Hadrian) at Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG eLive Auction 93, Lot 330 (https://www.numisbids.com/sale/10893/lot/330 Pic 1).

There was a cast twin copy of it at Bertolami (https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1160475 pic 2)

The original "mother" for this coin is also known (pic 3). It came up on various auctions. Including Leu Numismatic Beverly hills, 1984, lot 788; the CNG Triton VIII auction, New York, 2005, lot 733; and the Fritz Rudolf Künker auction 100, Osnabrück, 2005, lot 61. On the original coin, you can see the edge crack that has been completely filled on the cast copy.

https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=14255787

https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=206585

https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=236014

All the information comes from Amentia at the German forum. I thank Daniel for his dedication to the numismatic community as always. You can check the original post at https://www.numismatikforum.de/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=11495&start=9330

If anyone recognizes the tags (other than the Kovacs tag), I'd love to know. I recall seeing a comment from u/KungFuPossum about that yellow tag (4th pic)

I've hid the "non coins" in the picture 🤣 You might be able to find it

Sometimes, we tend to be less cautious towards coins of emperors that are considered "common". I had the same thought about this coin, and perhaps Curtis Clay did too.

https://www.hjbltd.com/#!/inventory/item-detail/ancient-coins/117659?fromBbs=236th%20Buy%20Or%20Bid%20Sale

The first coin shown is a coin from the recent HJB Buy or Bid sale 236. An unpublished variant. But with Curtis Clay provenance and Naumann provenance, the coin seems pretty legit. Also, it's just Gordian III... right?

The coin in question is a forgery. Fake reports with matching reverse exists.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/displayimage.php?pid=12838 (pic 2, bottom right)

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/displayimage.php?pid=10604 (pic 3, reverse match)

There's a Bertolami example with matching obverse (sold as forgery)

https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=8675236 (top left)

Two instances of the coin being not sold/withdrawn (pic 4, 5)

https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=8878296

https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=8878295

And finally, a Lanz example (obverse match) (pic 6)

https://coryssa.org/coins/2620910

The forgeries are discussed at Modern Forgeries of Greek and Roman Coins by Ilia Prokopov, 1997. There exists a link between 143-146 (pic 7) and the forgery forementioned.

The last pic is the most important. Amentia analyzes numerous fake coins, and proceeds to create a diagram that displays the die link between the forgeries. It's an excellent resource to find out whether your coin is a forgery (if the image is fuzzy, try the link at the bottom that sends you to the original post)

All of the content comes from Amentia who posts excellent contents at the German forum. I STRONGLY recommend that you give a read

https://www.numismatikforum.de/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=11495&sid=bc37951444d4e2b0f45fc27362ed264a&start=9330

One ❗️ among other junks. I'll probably give out the rest to kids who like history. 23 GBP. Considering I'll never pay 500 USD for a worn example of that reverse, I don't think it's a terrible deal

I've been looking for a fairly priced Septimius Severus with decently interesting reverse. Sub 50 USD. This one was slightly over that at 48 EUR + 10 for shipping, but I fell in love with this one!

Septimius Severus going overboard with PART MAX on the obverse and VICT PARTHICAE on the reverse...

Slightly ashamed at how I went waaaaaaaaay over my original bid (30 usd) after some competing bids... but it's a Medallion (Hexassarion)! Definitely paid more than what I should've at 60 USD. I could probably get a decent example for around 250 eur (CNG 2013 ex went for around that price). Or maybe I can't (because the nomos example-significantly overweight-went for 2700 CHF and Münzzentrum Rheinland ex went for 600 eur).

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It's celebrating the Pythian games. I plan to start a new subcollection around the topic (major reason why I wanted to follow the bid). Quite intriguing

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THRACE. Philippopolis. Elagabalus, 218-222. Hexassarion, commemorating the Kendreiseian and Pythian in Philippopolis. ΑΥΤ Κ Μ ΑΥΡΗΛΙΟϹ ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟϹ ϹΕΒ Radiate and cuirassed bust of Elagabalus to right, seen from behind. Rev. ΚΕΝΔΡΕΙϹΕΙΑ ΠΥΘΙΑ ΕΝ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟ//ΠΟΛΙ ΝΕΩΚΟ/ΡΩ Octostyle Corinthian temple shown in perspective; in the pediment, shield and spear. Burrell p. 243, type 4. Varbanov, Philippopolis, XVII.11.2.3.

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Second coin is a bonus. Popular type with decent strike. Lack of patina hurts, but it was pretty cheap

Not pretty by any mean, but I love the reverse. Price wasn't terrible at 55 eur. It's a fairly scarce reverse to find!

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Gallienus. 253-268 AD. AR Antoninianus (3.59g, 23mm). Colonia Agrippinensis mint. Struck 257 AD. Obv.: IMP GALLIENVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right. Rev.: IOVI VICTORI, Jupiter, nude, standing facing on cippus inscribed IMP C E S, holding Victory in his right hand and a long scepter in his left. RIC 22; Cohen 397; Elmer 31; MIR 870f.

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Second coin is that of Severus Alexander. I wanted an attractive example of it so decided to blow my bank.

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Third coin (not my coin) was a coin I could've bought instead of the first. It's extremely aesthetic, and I was really close to grabbing it, but I decided otherwise in order to have 2 meals a day (3rd coin was a bit more expensive). More budget spent might've actually mess up my quality of life 🤣

I usually avoid any ancient weaponry in fear of acquiring forgeries, but these were convincing enough for me to spend 10 dollars each for them.

First object seems to be iron arrowhead (presumably Roman). It's similar to diagram example at pic 2.

Second object is almost certainly a Roman bolt fired from ballista. It's almost identical to example at pic 5. The rivet hole mentioned by the book is present

Third example (which I'm least sure about) seems to be possibly Graeco-Scythian or Achaemenid Persian bronze arrowhead, 650-330 BC.

Reference at pic 7 - Met Collection 26.199.293-294.

I know that this isn't exactly ancient "coins", but the last example may have been (a BIG maybe) used as trade piece. Tywin plz don't ban me 🙏

I want to thank u/Kamnaskires for providing me the sales listing and the references

Impulse purchase messed up the budget for this month, but I ain't backing down!

Bithynia, Nikaia. Macrianus Usurper 260-261. AE (23 mm, 6.76 gram)

[...]ΟC CΕ Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right

NIKAIEΩN Aerial view of the city walls in the shape of an octagon, with arched gateways above and below

Ex collection Walter Louwet and Savoca Silver Auction 97 (2021), lot 255. (120 eur sold + BP)

Phoenicia. Berytus. Claudius 41-54. AE (20 mm, 9.89 gram)

TI CLAVD CAESAR Laureate head left

Two aquilae facing one another; two standards behind, vertical V/VIII between

RPC 4547. Rouvier 509. Very fine

Got the first for 75 eur, second for 20 eur.

I think u/Perfectset1455 had one Macrianus coin

The Domitius Alexander coin in the upcoming Bertolami Fine Art Auction 391 (Lot 233: https://www.bertolamifineart.cz/uk/auction-0391/domitius-alexander-usurper-308-310-follis-carthago-c-310-a-597-g-207-m-18883) is a Petar Petrov forgery according to Amentia.

It's a match to one on the sales catalog (pic 2) of the master forgerer. Amentia gives multiple examples

https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=11393068 Roma Numismatics - withdrawn

https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=703175 Rauch - withdrawn

https://auktionen.felzmann.de/Los/159/1099.0 Felzmann - withdrawn

https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=8738614 V.L. Nummus Floor

Source: Amentia's posts on the German forum

https://www.numismatikforum.de/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=11495&start=9330

The first coin was listed at CNG Electronic Auction 611, lot 602. Ex CNG Auction 160, March 14, 2007, lot 144; Coin Galleries, November 13, 2002, lot 251. It was also the second example listed at RPC (https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coin/340099).

If you compare it with the other example from the (genuine, assumed mother coin) Fitzwilliam museum (pic 2, first example listed at RPC - https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coin/340101), you'll find something peculiar. The two coins are basically identical, with the same kind of die shape, damage, and strike centering. It is quite evident that the CNG coin is a cast fake that was made from the Fitzwilliam museum specimen.

Upon Amentia's discovery, CNG reacted quickly and immediately withdrew the coin https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-LGIJT7/withdrawn

Interesting fact was pointed out by Altamura2 (https://www.numismatikforum.de/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=20689) in response to Amentia's post. The real mother coin (pic 2) comes from the collection of William M. Leake and was already known in 1859 in "A Supplement to Numismata Hellenica: A Catalogue of Greek Coins" (pg. 39) - https://www.digitale-sammlungen.de/en/view/bsb10633908?page=51 - Leake's collection then entered the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge in 1864. Meaning that this cast was probably created at some time before 1864. Pretty interesting

Source: Amentia's post at the German forum (https://www.numismatikforum.de/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=11495&start=9330). HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you read through the thread. Gives you good lectures on how to distinguish forgeries.

As always, I thank Amentia for his service for the good of the numismatic field.

I had two candidates for the Decentius, but I liked the double strike on the one I chose (plus it's Trier mint which my collection is more oriented towards). Second coin was pretty much a side piece to justify the 17 dollars shipping.

Lindgren and Kovacs A786B with Henry Clay tag. According to seller (Marc B): "The text listing does not match the picture, this is actually coin A786A in the text listings."

Price was pretty hefty, and away from my usual "budget efficient" collection. 60 dollars for the Decentius and 30 for the plate coin.

*it's an overstrike. Not double strike. Any guesses on the underlying type is appreciated.

All of the content comes from Amentia's post on the German forum https://www.numismatikforum.de/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=11495&sid=f429c8e6ea5d2c3faf9cd46b5c8dc382&start=9315

Long story short, a transfer die forgery of Aquilia Severa sold successfully at MDC Monaco MDC Monaco e-auction 16 (lot 449. https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=15939932) 3 months ago. Interesting part of this transaction is that this exact forgery has been withdrawn previously at Numismatik Lanz Munich Auction 150 (lot 356. https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=910894 PIC 2). This specimen has been around for quite some time.

Amentia gives further examples of the trnasfer die fakes. Pic 3 and 4 shows that a specimen of this forgery type managed to get through both CNG and Heritage. (https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=10189113 and https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=134516)

Amentia said that the same coin also got through Gorny (Pic 5), but I think it's a different example that he accidentally mixed up (still forgery). https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=123667

Pic 6 and 7 shows different examples of this forgery type. (https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=502520 and https://www.numisbids.com/sale/1770/lot/?lot=1327)

Last pic is a picture from the forum's fake report entry. While the report claims that the die is made up forgery from Bulgaria, Amentia disagrees (citing that genuine examples of this die exist). While I'm not much of an expert as Amentia is, I agree with this statement. It is almost certainly transfer die forgeries.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/displayimage.php?pid=18801

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/displayimage.php?pid=18800

As always, I'd like to thank Amentia for doing great service to the numismatic society.

Fel Temp Reparatio type. Lugdunum

Very stylistic

It finally arrived! + some other coins

Value?

It's some kind of hilarious attempt at imitating RPC I, 3 (Pic 2).

All the other coins are bonus for me. I saw that turtle, and I KNEW I had to have it. Absolutely. For 65 euros, I'm reducing my meal portion and that should make it up.

Euboia is bit beat up, and the owl is ex jewelry. Boeotia is off center. Does not matter (actually, it does. I love the owl and the shield). All that matters is that TURTLE!

Looks like some kind of imitation for Fel Temp Reparatio type.

A coin that sold for 40k on NAC came back up on CNG a while ago... with one extra detail. A fracture signaling that it has been repaired. It sold for 12k

Excellent repair work btw

Found on Numisforum (post by Deinomenid). I wanted to share this because I personally find this shocking. The forearm pictures from the forearm guy may stop coming up on this sub after this post...

https://www.numisforums.com/topic/9899-someone-just-broke-a-40000-ultrarare-greek-coin/