November 1998 Coin of the Month

CAST COUNTERFEIT
Recent analysis of this coin has declared it as a modern invention and a really good cast Counterfeit.  Both this specimen and the one that was in the Sotheby's Sale 7214 (12/98) are identical and therefore are both fantasies.  Some of the problems found with the coin are:


1. There are a multitude of microscopic holes that can be seen over most of the surfaces of this coin that indicate that it was produced by casting.
2. The metal "flow" line from the 'V' in VICTORI on the reverse is not natural but created from a die.  This is the only indication of metal flow on this coin and it is contrived.
3.  The letter formation, especially seen in the 'A's are not typical of coinage from Carthage during this time period.  Also, notice all of the round raised areas at most junctions of the letters.  This is also not normal for coinage of this era/mint.
4. The field surfaces of this coin is smooth.  Most, if not all, coinage of this mint and period exhibits an irregular/uneven surface.
5. The Indictional A would date the coin as 597/8 which is very unlikely because there had not been an issue of gold for a second emperor (by them self) for more than 150 years.
An extremely rare solidus of Theodosius, son of Maurice Tiberius struck at Carthage.  This is the piece that was stolen from Harlan Berk (as referenced in his book), and then ultimately recovered.  Therefore, three pieces do exist.  The census is the piece in the November 2 Sotheby's sale that was in Harlan Berk's book, this piece and a third piece that is may have a hole in it.  This piece weighs 4.47g and was thought to have been struck after the death/overthrow of Maurice Tiberius in 602.  Since information did not travel very fast, it is believed that the Carthaginian's thought that Theodosius succeeded his father as emperor instead of Phocas.  The are limited a number of silver coins also struck in Carthage, which lends credibility to this theory..

November 1998 Imitative Piece of the Month
 

A Lombardic tremissis struck in the name of Heraclius produced in Tuscany c.620-645.  Notice the blundering of the obverse legend and run on of the words in the reverse legend.  The piece weighs 1.50g and is a variety of MEC 307, due to a slight difference in the reverse legend (missing an 'A'.)