Again, along the recent series of Blog Posts regarding modern fakes readers should be made aware of a potentially convincing fake countermark on 8 Reale coins from Jamaica (c.1758-9). While the fabricators of these fake coins or countermarks may have some familiarity with the issues they are copying generally their knowledge is not as developed as an advanced collector/student and inevitably they get one or more aspects wrong which then is a marker for their handiwork. Numismatists must be vigilant and conduct a through investigation when a new variety makes it’s appearance in the marketplace. While legitimate contemporary material continues to be discovered, from time to time, the modern fabricator will use this route to their advantage in placing their modern material into the marketplace. The quality of modern fakes will undoubtedly improve, but I trust that ‘we’ shall be able to find that one little thing that they get wrong.
Counterfeits
Caveat Emptor – Even with Slabbed Coins – By K. V. Eckardt
This short articles continues the recent run of articles on the theme of forgeries; this time in relation to my interest in West Indies cut and countermarked coins, and the encapsulation of such coins.
Some Dangerous Modern Forgeries of Anglo-Saxon and Norman Pence – A.G. Bliss
This brief note details some dangerous forgeries of Anglo-Saxon and Norman pence, all offered for sale via eBay during 2019 and 2020. These pieces are of particular concern as many are artificially distressed, a feature which makes them more convincing to those unfamiliar with them.
Caveat Emptor II: Modern Forgeries of Richard II – D. I. Greenhalgh
Following up on the previous article by Rob Page on fakes of Henry III, here is a brief article describing some fakes of Richard II.
Caveat Emptor: Some Modern Fakes of Henry III Long Cross Pennies – Rob Page
The appearance on the market of increasingly sophisticated forgeries should be a source of concern to all collectors, not just those of Henry III. This article describes four forgeries of Henry III pennies, and advises caution when considering buying coins being sold from Eastern Europe.
Two Contemporary Notices of Counterfeiting – Gary Oddie
This short note will present two documented cases of counterfeiting where sufficient information is included to allow surviving specimens to be identified.In the first case from Aberdeen in 1799, a counterfeit shilling with an Anne Obverse but with a 1720 reverse, the present author is seeking readers’ help in providing illustrations to complete the note.In the second case from Portsmouth in 1915, a counterfeit shilling dated 1877, the unusual choice of metal for the counterfeit and its grade when issued makes the surviving pieces stand out from typical counterfeits of the period.”