PSA: That Roman coin I found at a flea market 3 years ago turned out to be a modern fake

I picked up what I thought was a bargain at a shop outside Bath last month for just $150, but after a local archaeologist took a look last week he pointed out a tiny casting seam I missed, has anyone else been burned by these convincing reproductions?

3 comments

3 Comments

kimmurphy4d ago

Ugh, that stings. I've been there with a fake silver denarius myself.

mary_west4d ago

You know, I used to roll my eyes at people getting excited about flea market finds and always thought they were just being dramatic. But honestly, seeing how good these fakes can be and hearing about a tiny casting seam being the only giveaway really changed my mind on how tricky this stuff is. Guess it's way too easy to get fooled even when you think you know what to look for lol.

jana_jones4d ago

And the thing is, @mary_west, even experts get caught sometimes lol. I've seen videos where collectors with 20+ years of experience pull out a loupe and still miss a fake until they weigh it on a scale or check it under a blacklight. The fakers are getting so good at aging techniques too, like making patinas look like they've been buried for centuries. It honestly makes you wonder how many "rare" pieces in museum collections could be clever forgeries that nobody has caught yet.

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