Estimate: 100.000 CHFRussia, Alexander II.
Gold medal.
Saving the life of the Tsar during the
failled assassination attempt by Soloviev.
1112
Estimate: 25.000 CHFGreek world, S
yracuse, Dionysius I.
Decadrachm,
signed with EU - AINE.
1002
Estimate: 20.000 CHFRoman Empire.
Septimus Severus.
Aureus after 149.
The only known specimen.
1007
Estimate: 40.000 CHFGermany,
City of Wrocław/Breslau.
25 Ducats 1669.
Of the highest rarity.
1032
Estimate: 200.000 CHFGreat Britain.
Victoria.
Pattern 5 Pounds 1839,
Una and the lion.
Of the highest rarity. NGC PF63.
1059
Estimate: 7.500 CHFCzechia, Wallenstein.
Albrecht von Wallenstein.
Ducat 1627.
Very rare.
1122
Estimate: 35.000 CHFHungary, Transylvania.
Michael Apafi.
10 Ducat Klippe 1683.
Of the highest rarity.
1131
Estimate: 25.000 CHFSwitzerland, Grisons,
Diocese of Chur.
Johann Anton v.Federspiel.
1/6 Reichstaler 1758.
Probably the only known specimen.
1185
Estimate: 175.000 CHFSwitzerland, Confederation.
5 Francs 1886.
Of the highest rarity.
Only five specimens struck
1217
Estimate: 25.000 CHFSwitzerland, Bern.
Quintuple gold Gulden 1501.
Off-metal strike in gold of the Guldiner.
Of the highest rarity.
5081
Archive: People and Markets

How the Romans Made Counterfeits

Counterfeits have been around in ancient Roman times, too. Romans made counterfeit cast coins from a copper-tin alloy. The alloy imitates the appearance of real silver coins. In an interdisciplinary research project at the University of Tübingen (Germany), the production process of these counterfeits has been successfully reconstructed for the first time.

The steps involved ranged from pressing coins into clay moulds to imprint the shape of the coin, to melting the components of the alloy up to the actual casting process. Thanks to the results of the experimental project, we can now better understand the phenomenon of counterfeit coins in the Roman Empire.

PD Dr. Stefan Krmnicek provides his numismatic perspective to the interdisciplinary project.

PD Dr. Stefan Krmnicek provides his numismatic perspective to the interdisciplinary project.

The interdisciplinary team consists of:

  • Alexander Zimmermann of Schmiede und Schlosserei Zimmermann (a blacksmith’s workshop), Pliezhausen,
  • Annette Flicker and Dr. Christoph Berthold of the Competence Center Archaeometry- Baden-Wuerttemberg CCA-BW, University of Tübingen, and
  • Rebecca Sandbichler, Mona Hähnle and PD Dr. Stefan Krmnicek from the Institute of Classical Archaeology, University of Tübingen

The work was documented on film. The result can be seen on the official YouTube channel of the University of Tübingen. The video is in German, but has professional English subtitles.

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