Estimate: 20.000 $Ancients:
MACEDONIAN KINGDOM.
Alexander III the Great (336-323 BC).
AV distater (22mm, 17.22 gm, 10h).
NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 4/5.
31002
Estimate: 15.000 $Ancients:
MACEDONIAN KINGDOM.
Alexander III the Great (336-323 BC).
AV distater (21mm, 17.20 gm, 7h).
NGC AU 5/5 - 3/5, Fine Style, edge cut.
31004
Estimate: 15.000 $Ancients:
BITHYNIA.
Cius. Ca. 350-300 BC.
AV stater (18mm, 8.56 gm, 12h).
NGC Choice XF 5/5 - 4/5.
31012
Estimate: 10.000 $Ancients:
Augustus (27 BC-AD 14).
AR cistophorus (25mm, 11.70 gm, 2h).
NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 2/5, Fine Style, brushed.
31028
Estimate: 15.000 $Ancients:
Claudius I (AD 41-54).
AV aureus (19mm, 7.90 gm, 5h).
NGC Choice AU★ 5/5 - 4/5, light marks.
31032
Estimate: 7.500 $Armenia:
Cilician Armenia.
Gosdantin I 2 Tram ND (1298-1299)
MS61 NGC
31053
Estimate: 10.000 $France:
Louis XV
gold "Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette Marriage"
Medal 1770-Dated MS62 NGC
31061
Estimate: 50.000 $Great Britain:
Elizabeth I (1558-1603)
gold "Ship" Ryal of 15 Shillings ND (1584-1586)
MS63 NGC
31074
Estimate: 75.000 $Great Britain:
Victoria gold Proof
"Una and the Lion"
5 Pounds 1839
PR62 Deep Cameo PCGS
31087
Estimate: 20.000 $Jamaica:
British Colony. George II
gold Counterstamped
8 Escudos (Doubloon) ND (c. 1773)
XF45 NGC
31105
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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