I plan to add here links to interesting or danger fake coins on eBay from time to time. I know dealers who have purchased genuine ancient coins for remarkably low prices on eBay, but they knew exactly what they were doing. Unfortunately, thousands of fake coins are sold every month on eBay. Sofia (1997), Prokopov, Ilya S. and E. Paunov. I have eBay searches running on late west roman coins. This page is dedicated to educate and warn people about counterfeit ancient coins offered through the internet, and to acquaint them with the appearance of these coins in order to distinguish them from the genuine ancient coins. You could also pick one god or goddess to focus on collecting. Any serious collector of ancients should also read Wayne Sayles’ excellent book, Classical Deception (2001). The size of the coins vary considerable due to imperfect Roman flan production methods, but Roman die cutting was more careful with the beaded border of the aureus dies 19 to 19.5 mm across and denarii dies 18. I agree. In the eternal war between forger and authenticator, the good guys still hold the advantage. _______________________________________________________________________, Counterfeits are almost as old as coinage, International Association of Professional Numismatists (IAPN), https://coinreplicas.com/about/peter-rosa-biography/, https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/rules/rulemaking-regulatory-reform-proceedings/hobby-protection-act, https://www.coinweek.com/coin-clubs/legislation-icta/collectible-coin-protection-act-unanimously-passed/, PCGS Grades Fantastic Gold 5 Rubles Russian Coin, Pease Collection Paper Money, Colonial Copper at Heritage Auctions, Heritage Offers Cid-Pulido Collection of Spanish Banknotes in FUN Auction, Classic US Gold Coins: What’s Hot and What’s Not – 2021 Edition, CoinWeek Podcast #146: Harriet Tubman Considered, Perth Mint Offers 2021 Year of the Ox Antiqued 2oz Silver Coin, ANA College Scholarships Available to Young Collectors, Zoom Video Presentation: Travels in Judea and Samaria: Coins & Etc. I have yet to see an authentic coin from these countries come to market. Iola, WI (2001), Sear, David. He simulated wear on his coins by packing them in a box of iron filings attached to the axle of his carriage. Even major museums sell packets of imitation ancient "coins" in their gift shops. Museum of Roman Countermarks and Counterstamps on Coins. Sellers will also put “Europe”, “Evrope”, or “Evropa” as there location. Fake? Get great deals on eBay! /s, Im guessing you dont shop on eBay much? I’m just pointing out a trend I have noticed and personally will not be buying from sellers with said locations listed. He served in the Coast Guard during World War II. I think the better advice, rather than targeting sellers from specific (or not so specific) countries, is to not buy off eBay unless you can spot a fake. Good for study! C $81.54. IN A NUTSHELL: Counterfeit coins are an unavoidable reality in the numismatic marketplace, particularly with ancient coins though with modern coins as well. The Roman currency during most of the Roman Republic and the western half of the Roman Empire consisted of coins including the aureus, the denarius, the sestertius, the dupondius, and the as. [2] http://counterfeitcoins.reidgold.com/, [4] https://coinreplicas.com/about/peter-rosa-biography/, [5] https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/rules/rulemaking-regulatory-reform-proceedings/hobby-protection-act, [6] https://www.coinweek.com/coin-clubs/legislation-icta/collectible-coin-protection-act-unanimously-passed/, Golenko, Konstantin V. “The Method of Counterfeiting Ancient Coins of the Bosporous by M. Sazonov, as Told by Himself”, ANS Museum Notes 20 (1975), Hendin, David. Many “ancient” coins offered for sale on eBay are deceptive fakes, particularly Roman denarii. 106 Posts. So, in conclusion, Greek Imperial or Roman Provincial coins made an amazing addition and make any ancient Roman coin … **, Press J to jump to the feed. Many of Becker’s fakes were struck in tin or “white metal” (an alloy of tin, lead, antimony and other metals in variable proportions). An odd choice from which to make an off-metal fake! A lot of fakes and "reproductions" have been made (especially in the Middle East, Bulgaria, and China) and "coins" sold to innocent tourists abroad are often fake. Some coins even include detailed pamphlets, offering snippets of information not only about the coin but about the Roman activities at the time of the coins creation. Sofia (2003), Prokopov, Ilya S. Modern Forgeries of Greek and Roman Coins. Top 25 Counterfeit Chinese Coins. Dealers who are members of the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG) and the International Association of Professional Numismatists (IAPN) are carefully screened and must comply with a rigorous code of ethics. To help collectors and dealers identify counterfeit coins, NGC has prepared lists of the most commonly counterfeited US, Chinese and world coins with diagnostic information and images from NGC’s extensive database, as well as commentary from the NGC coin grading team. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Has a sign in page but you can use it without an account. In 1973, the US Congress passed the Hobby Protection Act prohibiting the importation or sale “of any imitation numismatic item which is not plainly and permanently marked COPY”[5]. New York (2005), Hill, George F. Becker the Counterfeiter. All News, Articles, Commentary and Opinions are contributed by the author(s), with or without compensation, who are solely responsible for the content, and do not represent CoinWeek Management. THE OFFICIAL 2021 MEGA RED BOOK DELUXE EDITION, LIGHTHOUSE INTERCEPT SHIELD DOUBLE ROW SLAB BOX, PROFESSIONAL LARGE TABLE TOP SCALE (4000 X .1 G), LIGHTHOUSE HIGH PERFORMANCE DIGITAL MICROSCOPE, BCW TOPLOAD HOLDERS -- LARGE CURRENCY -- PACK OF 25, Collector's Assistant - World , Ancient, US and Paper, HEAVY DUTY DOUBLE ROW SLAB/CROWN BOX (10 INCH), PLEASURE AND PROFIT: 100 LESSONS FOR BUILDING AND SELLING A COLLECTION OF RARE COINS, LIGHTHOUSE COIN CLEANING FLUID FOR ALL COINS. Seller News. You can host the photos using the imgur app or by going to https://imgur.com/upload to make an album/gallery of them. Another benefit of Roman provincial coins is that they feature portraits of the imperial family which are otherwise not present on Roman Imperial coins. Mainly intended to protect collectors of classic US coins from Chinese counterfeits, the act was amended by the 2014 Collectible Coin Protection Act[6]. Any serious collector of Biblical or Judaean coins should own (and study!) But others were overstruck on worn ancient coins of low value, so the metal is actually authentic. 01 of 05 Most of the time, you probably can’t. Even the most obvious fakes can easily fool anyone who is not a trained expert. Revised Dec. 27, 2020. Most of these coins are very rare and never come to market often. Counterfeits are almost as old as coinage. 3 talking about this. Time left 6d 6h left. How do you know a dealer is “reputable”? to 100 A.D. Roman coins were minted from 400 B.C. The most famous ancient coin forger of the early modern era was Karl Wilhelm Becker (1772-1830), who produced high-quality, hand-struck struck fakes of some 300 different Greek, Roman and Medieval coins. Each seller lists a specific location (Berlin, Germany) with the city name and country. New Listing RARE EMPEROR Marcian Roman Coin "Monogram, NIC" Nicomedia Mint CERTIFIED w COA. Shipping not specified. TENSOR LIGHT - used by many numismatists to examine and grade coins. Note that these sellers like to also mix genuine coins in with their fakes. The amount of forged coins on eBay seems to be growing substantially. Top Rated Seller Top Rated Seller. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Ebay does nothing to remove these sellers so be aware! A good rule to remember is that if a deal seems too good to be true, it is very probably neither good nor true. These are the kind of PSAs that the internet runs on. The Byzantine Empire spanned from 330 to 1204 A.D. and again from 1261 to 1453 A.D. Forgery network A database for forged items including coins. Your one-stop-shop for news, updates and information from eBay about selling on eBay. I bought from a seller who exactly had his location set as "Europe" but when the package arrived, I could see the return address was in Serbia. These are easily distinguished from the originals. eBay is one of the largest platforms for online sales of coins. Becker always insisted that his work was not intended to defraud collectors, but only to make great works of numismatic art available to collectors of modest means. ROMAN COINS: A BRIEF INTRODUCTION by Richard Baker During the many years that Rome ruled the Mediterranean World, a number of Roman coins were countermarked by various governing authorities and even by usurpers. In reality, most ancient fakes are not dangerous to an expert, or even to a well-informed beginner. The legal status of these products appears to be uncertain. 310 pages, including 24 plates, reproducing 352 coins, in Italian with extensive English summary, ISBN 88-87235-29-5 - The first systematic … Agreed. ebay roman coins ebay ancient coins ebay ancient greek coins ebay silver coins for sale foreign ancient coins . Dealers worry that fear of fakes will scare off potential collectors. In 1955 doing business as the “Becker Manufacturing Company” he began selling reproductions of ancient coins and Becker’s fakes. I bought a fourée denarius of Crispina and a Roman lead seal (both genuine) along with a half siliqua of Maximus of Spain (I assume it to be fake since they are so rare, though I can't say for sure). He worked briefly for a metal stamping and casting firm, but he was mainly self-taught, learning die making and metallurgy from books and through trial and error (Sayles, 5). Fakes and Forgeries: The True Crime Stories of History’s Greatest Deceptions. New York (1883), Prokopov, Ilya S. Counterfeits of Roman and Byzantine Gold Coins. In 1824, the Austrian Imperial Coin Cabinet in Vienna acquired Becker’s dies, and a detailed catalog of his work was published a century later (Hill, 1924). I feel sickened when I see a forged coin go for hundreds of dollars. A fake coin often looks too clean to be 2,000 years old. If you buy a cheap Roman coin (for less than 100 US dollars) there is a smaller chance that it is a fake. Minerva, Mars, Venus, and Cybelle are some ideas of gods and goddesses you can collect. Top 25 Counterfeit World Coins. **PLEASE HELP US HELP YOU BY POSTING PHOTOS OF BOTH SIDES OF EACH COIN** and preferably photos of its edge as well. Byzantine Coins and Their Values. The best way to verify the authencity of a coin is to compare it with an image of the same coin. This page addresses only ancient coins, not US coins or anything else. The best way for a collector to avoid fake ancient coins is to purchase only from reputable dealers. FOR CLASSICAL NUMISMATISTS any discussion of fake ancient coins is… a delicate subject. The altering of a Roman coin by a countermark, sometimes referred to as a counterstamp, was usually done to change its legal status, its area of circulation or its value. … Online resources. Here’s how to protect yourself: Find a reputable coin dealer. Peter Rosa (1926-1990) was born in New York City, where he lived most of his life[4]. Rosa’s nephew and apprentice, Charles Doyle, continues to offer Rosa coin replicas, doing business as CoinReplicas.com. When the demand exceeded the supply, fakers were quick to exploit the opportunity. Often times they dont even live there. “Some people differentiate between the terms “counterfeit” and “forgery”, using “counterfeit” to refer to fakes created to circulate and “forgery” to refer to fakes created to deceive collectors.”. Go there and enter in the identification (for example, the name of the Roman emperor or the name of the Greek city) in the search box. But when worn, scratched and artfully patinated, Rosa’s reproductions can look convincing to beginners. London (1987). Later, cheap cast copies known as “Paduans” (and often catalogued as “after Cavino”) were produced. Ancient; Roman ; Roman Republican (c.300-27 BC) Roman Imperial (27BC-96AD) Roman Imperial (96-235AD) Roman Imperial (235-476AD) Roman Provincial; Bulk Lots (Cleaned) Bulk Lots (Uncleaned) Cleaned/ Uncleaned. Cookies help us deliver our Services. Some old Roman coins have the emperor on one side and his family on the other side. Cast Forgeries of Classical Coins from Bulgaria. Sofia (2004), Sayles, Wayne G. Classical Deception: Counterfeits, Forgeries and Reproductions of Ancient Coins. Modern fakes, on the other hand, are usually worthless, unless they are precious metal with some melt value, or examples of the work of famous forgers of the Renaissance and early modern eras. Forgeries of ancient Roman and Greek coins offered for sale on a large scale on the internet! Just about every type of common-ish bronze coin is now in circulation as a fake. CoinWeek Supplies Highlights _______________________________________________________________________. Side Refine Panel. This coin, from the photo, appears to be a white-metal cast from a wax mold made from a mid-grade solidus. Fake Roman Coins has 560 members. eBay sellers who sell too many fake ancient coins to trust, in the opinions of members of the Coin Forgery Discussion List (formerly a Yahoo! see all. Next Page | Last 15 Replies . Do NOT buy from sellers that have this listed as there location. The style is always a bit off. Stay away! Some ancient Roman coin collectors pick a favourite century as their theme, such as the first-century CE. Princes and Popes vied with one another to assemble impressive collections of ancient marble statues, metalwork and coins. Over the course of three decades, he produced many hundreds of different coin dies; some 331 were acquired by the American Numismatic Society (ANS). The most famous coin artist of this era was Giovanni Cavino (c. 1499-1570) of Padua. Fake Greek And Roman Silver Coins On Ebay. I have eBay searches running on late west roman coins. Another Cavino fantasy pairs an obverse of Vespasian (69 – 79) with the very rare “Colosseum” reverse, which was only issued by his sons Titus (79 – 81) and Domitian (81 – 96). Free shipping. For Western Countermarks on official Roman coins and their Imitations: Rodolfo Martini, "Nomismata 6: The Pangerl Collection of Julio-Claudian Countermarked Coins ( Augustus-Vespasian)" ca. CoinVac A database of several thousand fakes, mostly sold on eBay over the years. Please use the menu on the left hand side. Most of these coins are very rare and never come to market often. These roman coins come in various denominations, from the small as to the major denarius many of which feature the bust of the ruling emperor when the coin was first struck in history. Find roman coins from a vast selection of Coins: Ancient. Hi! If coin collectors would follow these five simple steps, not only would they not get saddled with fakes, they'd help put the counterfeiters out of business! Must Read: Collecting Fake Coins While I still show many examples of fakes acquired on eBay if you are seriously interested in this particular problem join the information forum on this website set up in the States several years ago. That is a fair point. Many “ancient” coins offered for sale on eBay are deceptive fakes, particularly Roman denarii. Just a heads up, but I have found lots of fakes on eBay coming from Serbia and other east European countries. Some of Cavino’s best-known coins were “fantasies” – designs that never appeared on any ancient coin, such as his “sestertius” of Otho, who never issued this denomination. Rosa insisted that his reproductions were never intended to deceive collectors, and freely donated specimens from his dies for use by certification services. David Hendin’s book Not Kosher (2005). Im not saying dont but from Europe, Im saying dont buy from a seller who only lists Europe as their location, New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the AncientCoins community, A place to show off and discuss ancient and medieval coins from around the world, as well as to post links to articles and other references about them. With Serbia, there are prominent fakers in the area. Note - this coin is only known in a solidus module and is quite rare. From Russian Federation. The amount of modern replica antiquities passed off as authentic is even more disgusting. 1. United Kingdom. Unlike most modern coins, Roman coins had intrinsic value. Not Kosher: Forgeries of Ancient Jewish and Biblical Coins. This frauds must be exposed and the unsuspecting buyers warned! Top 50 Counterfeit US Coins . To participate in the forum you must log in or register. Whether, cast, struck or plated, such fakes are still ancient coins, and many are quite collectable today. I've seen plenty of fakes from sellers in Britain, Spain, Germany, Canada and even the United States. eBay; Coins; Coins; Ancient; Roman; Silver Ancient Roman Coins; Skip to page navigation. If you can't spot a fake, avoiding Serbian sellers on eBay will only do you so much good. I thought Id share this info with anyone who browses there. Berkeley (1990), Lawrence, Richard H. Medals by Giovanni Cavino, The “Paduan”. Buying coins, especially sight-unseen online, can be harmful to your wallet if you can’t trust the source. Sofia (2015), Prokopov, Ilya S., Kissyov, K. and E. Paunov. C $1.26. The emperor and his family are one type of coin theme. Mostfakes are those of Constantine I and II, Licinius I and II, Constans, Constantius I and II, Valens, Jovian, Septimius Severus. Cavino’s coins were struck from finely engraved dies, some of which still survive in a Paris museum. From Anthemius to Romulus Augustulus, they are always from these countries. Forgers somtimes cut dies of incorrect size while occasionally using the same dies for more than one denomination so some of them is wrong. Most deceptive fakes of ancient coins originate in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, but there is growing concern that East Asian counterfeiters may be entering the business as well. Sellers from these countries have consistantly been churning out fakes. Buy coins that have been encapsulated by a third-party grader; Be skeptical of buying a coin that seems like too good of a deal. It's a bit like 'common sense', most people think they have it, even those that have none at all. After the war he worked in the Merchant Marine and often visited London, where he began collecting casts of magnificent ancient coins in the British Museum. But unfortunately most people can't tell they don't know enough. Learn how your comment data is processed. If you are new to the wonderful world of Roman coin collecting, and are thinking of buying coins on ebay, please use common sense. Otho ruled only from 15 January to 16 April 69 CE – the “Year of Four Emperors”. And just because something is normally low value, does not mean its safe on ebay. Tantalus Coins A listed of some fake late Roman coins. I cannot believe with their large network of employees that they do not police the activity. Collectible coins of Imperial Rome tell us about the emperors and the economic conditions of their times. I acquired this item from eBay in April 2008 from a seller who only described it as "Silver Roman Coin". Shop by category. Roman Imperial Coins (27 BC-476 AD) The Roman Empire occupies a significant place in the history of Western civilization, and much of that history is reflected in the coins of the era. (1967-1990). These fakers only list a dubiously listed continent so you cant tell where its coming from. Becker fakes frequently appear (correctly attributed as fakes) in European auctions. At the end of the day you either know enough to pass judgement on the coins themselves or you don't and if you don't you're probably gonna get burned shopping on eBay. or Best Offer. 2020 © DISCLAIMER: All content within CoinWeek.com is presented for informational purposes only, with no guarantee of accuracy. Sellers from these countries have consistantly been churning out fakes. From United States . **PLEASE DON'T MAKE MORE THAN ONE POST PER COIN OR GROUP OF COINS, use an imgur album. From Anthemius to Romulus Augustulus, they are always from these countries. Valued Member. New York (2005), Jones, Mark. There is no short cut and no substitute. to 476 A.D. and include Roman Republic and Roman Imperial coins, the latter of which changed based on the emperor at the time. 28 sold. actually I decided to not sell on eBay but on other reputed websites as with lot of real coins sellers, some fake coin sellers decide coin price on eBay and thus average price for good coins on eBay is lot less when compared to other sites like HA.com . Any serious collector of Byzantine coins probably already owns David Sears’ indispensible handbook Byzantine Coins and Their Values (1987), but would be well advised to consult the 33-page appendix on “Forgeries of Byzantine Coins from the ‘Beirut’ and Other ‘Schools.’”. While they contained precious metals, the value of a coin was higher than its precious metal content, so they were not bullion. Modern Counterfeits and Replicas of Ancient Greek and Roman Coins from Bulgaria. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Ebay is flooded with fakes lately. Filter (1) Silver Ancient Roman Coins. So just to clarify, we should never buy from any seller from this half of the world? Welcome. This eBay store specializes in Ancient Greek Roman Biblical Byzantine and Medieval Coins. There are categories for you to explore on the left side, along with links to Sale items and more which will make it easy for you to find anything. The Art of Deception. Ebay is only "safe" if you know what you're doing. Ancient Greek coins are some of the oldest, dating from 800 B.C. The rediscovery of classical antiquity during the Italian Renaissance (circa 1300 – 1500 CE) created a market for ancient artifacts. Ancient counterfeits circulated widely in a world where small change was often in short supply. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. The lack of a sestertius from this ruler left a gap in many collections, and Cavino filled it, by copying the design of a rare denarius with a left-facing bust (on most of his coins Otho faces right).