Estimate: 5.000 EURPoland. Free city of Danzig.
John II Casimir.
3 Ducat with dies of an 18 Ort. 1654.
VF +
738
Estimate: 800 EURNorway. Under Danish rule.
Christian V. Speciedaler.
1672.
NGC graded. VF 30 
736
Estimate: 500 EURGerman states.
Nürnberg.
Under Swedish rule. Gustav II Adolph.
Ducat. 1632. XF.
537
Estimate: 220 EURArendrijksdaalder.
De Drie steden. 1586.
NGC graded. AU 55 
43
Estimate: 500 EUR3 Gulden.
Willem I. 1818 U. XF +
207
Estimate: 40 EURMexico. Republic.
Peso. 1909 Mo GV.
NGC graded. MS 62 
792
Estimate: 100 EURRussia.
Alexander III. 
Rouble. 1892.
XF
742
Estimate: 130 EURGerman states.
Saxony. Albertine line.
Reichsthaler - Assumption of the Vicariat upon
death of Emperor Ferdinand III.
1657. VF - 
561
Estimate: 1.600 EURGreat Britain.
George II.
2 Guineas. 1738.
VF +.
694
Estimate: 400 EURFrance.
Charles VI.
Ecu d'or.
ND (1411). VF +. 
645
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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