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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Themes & Provenance| ▸ |Numismatics| ▸ |Counterfeits||View Options:  |  |  |   

Ancient Counterfeit Coins

Counterfeits of some of the very earliest coins prove that counterfeiting is nearly as old as coinage. The coins on this page are not the official issues of the various Greek cities or kings, or of the Roman or Byzantine empires, but they are all ancient, historic, and collectible. These are not modern replicas.

Seleukid Kingdom, Seleukos I Nikator, 312 - 280 B.C., Ancient Counterfeit

|Seleucid| |Kingdom|, |Seleukid| |Kingdom,| |Seleukos| |I| |Nikator,| |312| |-| |280| |B.C.,| |Ancient| |Counterfeit||tetradrachm|
Superb ancient counterfeit with intact plating and of finest style.
SH24647. Fouree silver plated tetradrachm, cf. Houghton-Lorber I 173 (official Susa mint), combining monograms of 173.14 and 173.16, Choice EF, weight 14.724 g, maximum diameter 26.8 mm, die axis 0o, unofficial mint, after 305 B.C.; obverse bust of Alexander or Seleukos wearing helmet covered with panther skin and adorned with horns and ears of bull; reverse BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΣEΛEYKOY, Nike with spread wings, standing right, crowning trophy with wreath, AX and ΠA control-marks across lower field; ex Gorny&Mosch 141, lot 161; SOLD


Ephesos, Ionia, Phanes, c. 625 - 600 B.C., Ancient Counterfeit Electrum Plate Over Silver

|Ephesos|, |Ephesos,| |Ionia,| |Phanes,| |c.| |625| |-| |600| |B.C.,| |Ancient| |Counterfeit| |Electrum| |Plate| |Over| |Silver||Hekte| |(1/6| |Stater)|
The official coin, of which this is an ancient counterfeit, is known to be among the oldest coins because a hemihekte from the issue was in the famous "Artemision Find" excavated from the foundation of the temple of Artemis at Ephesos. Seven different denominations are linked by the stag type, a common weight standard, and reverse die links. The stag is a symbol of Artemis and thus of Ephesus. The two larger denominations bear the name Phanes, who was likely a prominent citizen of Ephesus, perhaps a despot, a magistrate, or a wealthy money-lender. This coin is undoubtedly one of the very first counterfeit coins. Criminal counterfeiters were evidently a problem from the very beginnings of coinage.
SH21112. Fouree electrum plated Hekte (1/6 Stater), cf. Weidauer 35; Traité pl. II, 18; BMC Ionia 4 (official, Ephesos, electrum), VF, electrum over silver, weight 1.645 g, maximum diameter 9.6 mm, unofficial counterfeiter's mint, after c. 625 B.C.; obverse forepart of stag left, head turned right, three pellets before; reverse incuse square with raised lines; SOLD


Kingdom of Thrace, Lysimachos, 305 - 281 B.C., Portrait of Alexander the Great, Ancient Counterfeit

|Kingdom| |of| |Thrace|, |Kingdom| |of| |Thrace,| |Lysimachos,| |305| |-| |281| |B.C.,| |Portrait| |of| |Alexander| |the| |Great,| |Ancient| |Counterfeit||tetradrachm|
This coin was previously attributed as an official Lampsakos mint issue. It is no wonder, the style is superb, the portrait of Alexander the Great is struck in magnificent high relief. Other than a base metal core, this work of a criminal engraver and workshop was equal to the finest tetradrachms struck for Lysimachos at his kingdom's official mints.
SH85159. Fouree silver plated tetradrachm, cf. Thompson 49, SNG BnF 2548, SNG Delepierre 843, SNG Cop 1097, Müller 399 (all solid silver, official mint issues), Choice EF, masterpiece portrait in high relief, well centered, some die wear/damage, slight double strike, small areas of exposed core, weight 15.269 g, maximum diameter 29.4 mm, die axis 270o, unofficial counterfeiter's mint, 297 - 281 B.C.; obverse diademed head of deified Alexander the Great wearing the horn of Ammon; reverse BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΛYΣIMAXOY, Athena enthroned left, Nike crowning name in extended right hand, left arm rests on grounded round shield decorated with Gorgoneion, transverse spear against right side, Δ/Ξ monogram inner left field, crescent horns left in exergue; ex Art of Money (Portland, OR); SOLD


Ephesos, Ionia, Phanes, c. 625 - 600 B.C., Ancient Counterfeit Electrum Plate Over Silver

|Ephesos|, |Ephesos,| |Ionia,| |Phanes,| |c.| |625| |-| |600| |B.C.,| |Ancient| |Counterfeit| |Electrum| |Plate| |Over| |Silver||1/24| |stater|
The official coin, of which this is an ancient counterfeit, is known to be among the oldest coins because a hemihekte from the issue was in the famous "Artemision Find" excavated from the foundation of the temple of Artemis at Ephesos. Seven different denominations are linked by the stag type, a common weight standard, and reverse die links. The stag is a symbol of Artemis and thus of Ephesus. The two larger denominations bear the name Phanes, who was likely a prominent citizen of Ephesus, perhaps a despot, a magistrate, or a wealthy money-lender. This coin is undoubtedly one of the very first counterfeit coins. Criminal counterfeiters were evidently a problem from the very beginnings of coinage.
SL112770. Fouree electrum plated 1/24 stater, Weidauer - , BMC - ; cf. SNG VA 7773 (not plated), NGC VF (6827718-002), weight 0.435 g, maximum diameter 6.2 mm, unofficial counterfeiter's mint, after c. 625 B.C.; obverse forepart of stag right, head turned left, three pellets before; reverse incuse square with raised lines; photo taken before certification, NGC| Lookup; SOLD


Pescennius Niger, April to 1 June 193 - March, April or May 194 A.D., Ancient Counterfeit

|Pescennius| |Niger|, |Pescennius| |Niger,| |April| |to| |1| |June| |193| |-| |March,| |April| |or| |May| |194| |A.D.,| |Ancient| |Counterfeit||ancient| |counterfeit|
SH34918. Bronze ancient counterfeit, cf. RIC IV 84 (denarius, official, Antioch mint), VF, weight 2.225 g, maximum diameter 18.0 mm, die axis 0o, unofficial mint, obverse IMP CAES C PESC[...] NIGER IVSTI AVG, laureate head right; reverse VICTORIAE (victories), Victory standing left, holding palm frond in left, with right inscribing AVG on shield set on column; very rare; SOLD


Macedonian Kingdom, Philip II of Macedonia, 359 - 336 B.C.

|Macedonian| |Kingdom|, |Macedonian| |Kingdom,| |Philip| |II| |of| |Macedonia,| |359| |-| |336| |B.C.||tetradrachm|
Gorny and Mosch listed this coin as plated with a square punch on the reverse. The dark area on the reverse is not a punch, the rider's leg and other details remain intact within the dark square. It is a flan flaw or lamination defect. The obverse is a die match to three plate coins in Le Rider, which also have this apluster reverse. A die match to an official coin usually indicates an official issue. This coin is perhaps not a fouree but rather just has a defect due to a poorly amalgamated alloy.
SH68251. Silver tetradrachm, perhaps a plated ancient counterfeit, cf. Le Rider pl. 39, 409 - 410 (same obv die, O409/R-), SNG ANS 543 ff., SNG Cop -, aEF, flaw on reverse, fine style, weight 14.246 g, maximum diameter 25.15 mm, die axis 225o, Amphipolis mint, c. 342 - 328 B.C.; obverse laureate head of Zeus right; reverse ΦIΛIΠΠOY, naked youth pacing right on horseback palm frond in right, reins in left, galley stern with apluster to left below; ex Gorny & Mosch auction 216, 2263; SOLD


Nero, 13 October 54 - 9 June 68 A.D., Ancient Counterfeit

|Nero|, |Nero,| |13| |October| |54| |-| |9| |June| |68| |A.D.,| |Ancient| |Counterfeit||denarius|
To celebrate his escape from the Pisonian conspiracy and assassination attempt in 65 A.D., Nero constructed a temple to Salus, the Roman goddess of health and safety, and honored her on the reverse of his coins.
RS99192. Fouree silver plated denarius, cf. RIC I 67 (for obv.) and 72 (for rev.) (official, solid silver, Rome mint, 67-68 A.D.), gVF, toned, core visible in edge crack, silver foil edge visible on rev., weight 3.101 g, maximum diameter 18.8 mm, die axis 90o, unofficial, counterfeiter's mint, 67 - 68 A.D.; obverse NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS, laureate head right; reverse Salus seated left on high-back throne, patera in right hand, SA-LVS across field; ex CNG e-auction 500 (22 Sep 2021), 735 (part of); ex Mercury Group Collection; ex CNG mail bid sale 76 (12 Sep 2007), lot 1410; ex C. G. Collection; ex CNG mail bid sale 45 (18 Mar 1998), lot 1907; SOLD


Julius Caesar, Imperator and Dictator, October 49 - 15 March 44 B.C., Ancient Counterfeit

|Julius| |Caesar|, |Julius| |Caesar,| |Imperator| |and| |Dictator,| |October| |49| |-| |15| |March| |44| |B.C.,| |Ancient| |Counterfeit||denarius|
RS99186. Fouree silver plated denarius, cf. Crawford 443/1, Sydenham 1006, RSC I 49, Sear CRI 9, BMCRR Gaul 27, Russo RBW 1557, SRCV I 1399 (silver, official, military mint, 49 B.C.), VF, toned, areas of core exposure, scratches, weight 2.752 g, maximum diameter 18.4 mm, die axis 225o, unofficial, counterfeiter's mint, c. 49 B.C.; obverse elephant walking right trampling on a carnyx (a Celtic war trumpet) ornamented to look like a dragon, CAESAR below; reverse implements of the pontificate: culullus (cup) or simpulum (ladle), aspergillum (sprinkler), securis (sacrificial ax), and apex (priest's hat); ex CNG e-auction 500 (22 Sep 2021), 735 (part of); ex Mercury Group Collection; ex Herakles Numismatics (16 July 2007); SOLD


Kyzikos, Mysia, c. 550 - 450 B.C., Ancient Counterfeit

|Cyzicus|, |Kyzikos,| |Mysia,| |c.| |550| |-| |450| |B.C.,| |Ancient| |Counterfeit||Hekte| |(1/6| |Stater)|
Counterfeiting began almost immediately after the first coinage was introduced. The official Phokaia coin was solid electrum, a mixture of gold and silver. This coin is plated with electrum over a base core, struck by a criminal counterfeiter in ancient times, intended for circulation as the official prototype.
SH112237. Fouree electrum plated Hekte (1/6 Stater), SNG BnF 273; Von Fritze I 124 (official Kyzikos prototype, solid electrum), VF, core exposure, scratches, weight 2.122 g, maximum diameter 10.1 mm, unofficial counterfeiter's mint, c. 550 - 450 B.C.; obverse bearded centaur advancing left, head right, holding branch in both hands, tunny fish lower left; reverse quadripartite incuse square; counterfeit of an extremely rare type; SOLD


Caracalla, 28 January 198 - 8 April 217 A.D., Ancient Counterfeit

|Caracalla|, |Caracalla,| |28| |January| |198| |-| |8| |April| |217| |A.D.,| |Ancient| |Counterfeit||denarius|
The Paris coin referenced by RIC, RSC, BMCRE and Cohen is listed as issued by the Laodicea ad Mare mint, but it is also undoubtedly an ancient counterfeit.
SH28321. Silver denarius, RIC IV 355 var., RSC III 20 var., BMCRE V p, 300 var., Cohen 20 var. (all refer to a single Paris coin Laodicea ad Mare mint, CERERI FRVGIS revs), gVF, frosty surfaces, weight 3.873 g, maximum diameter 18.3 mm, die axis 180o, illegal mint, obverse ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, laureate and draped young bust right; reverse CERERI FRVGTI (sic), Ceres seated left, stalks of grain in right hand, long scepter vertical in left; extremely rare; SOLD




  




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REFERENCES

Campbell, W. Greek and Roman Plated Coins. ANSNNM 75. (New York, 1933).
Metcalf, W. "Two Alexandrian Hoards" in RBN CXXII (1976), pp. 65 - 77, & pls. 1 - 2.

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