Imitations from an American Collection 6
Modern Forgery
M216+. This hybrid was struck from modern dies produced by the Slavey Studio of Bulgaria. The actual dies are published in "Modern Counterfeits and Replicas of Ancient Greek and Roman Coins from Bulgaria," by Ilya Prokopov, Kostadin Kissyov & Eugeni Paunov, #'s 118 (O) and 114 (R). I never did "believe" in this coin; see my original comments below. Ironically, the existence of two examples convinced me to accept both! Original description follows:
M216+. Obverse type of Q. Cassius Longinus, reverse type of Spurius Afranius, after 55 BC; cf. Cr-428/3 (O) and 206/1 (R), 3.76g. Both sides somewhat stylized; accurate reverse legend. See (M216) for another example of these dies. Honesty compels me to add that I'm not entirely convinced that either of these pieces is ancient.
M217+. Types of M. Junius Brutus, after 54 BC; cf. Cr-433/1, 3.61g. Both sides stylized; blundered, meaningless legends. Said to have been found in Spain, but unverified.
M218+. Obverse type of L. Censorinus, reverse type of M. Junius Brutus, after 54 BC; cf. Cr-363/1 (O) and 433/1 (R), 3.94g. Both sides stylized; traces of blundered, meaningless reverse legend.
M219+. Types of Julius Caesar, after 49 BC; cf. Cr-443/1, 3.19g. Both sides somewhat stylized; the addition of a tree above and behind the elephant is innovative and charming; culullus (sprinkler) missing on reverse; essentially accurate CAESAR on obverse, with A misunderstood as lambda.
M220+. Obverse type of Man. Aemilius Lepidus, reverse type of Julius Caesar, after 46 BC; cf. Cr-291/1 (O) and 467/1a (R), 3.77g. Both sides a bit stylized; traces of ROMA on obverse; meaningless, abstract reverse legend, other than correct D in right field. Would be classed as Copy if types were properly matched.
M221+. Obverse type of P. Clodius Turrinus, reverse type of Julius Caesar, after 42 BC; cf. Cr-494/23 (O) and 458/1 (R), 3.42g. Both sides slightly stylized; accurate, slightly crude reverse legend. Would be classed as copy if types were properly matched.
M222+. Obverse type of P. Clodius Turrinus, reverse type of Q. Pompeius Rufus, after 42 BC; cf. Cr-494/23 (O) and 434/2 (R), 4.00g. Both sides quite stylized; lituus to right of chair, not left; traces of meaningless, inappropriate legend behind head of Apollo; blundered, meaningless reverse legend.
M223+. Obverse type of C. Memmius, reverse type of P. Clodius Turrinus, after 42 BC; cf. Cr-427/1 (O) and 494/23 (R), after 42 BC, 3.21g. Both sides a bit stylized; blundered, recognizable legends. Ex collection of the late Charles A. Hersh.
M224+. Obverse type of Mark Antony, reverse type of Julius Caesar, after 42 BC; cf. Cr-496/1 (O) and 467/1 (R), 3.34g. Both sides somewhat stylized; blundered, perhaps meaningful obverse legend; accurate reverse legend. The imitation of a portrait coin, as here, is quite unusual, and the combination
of types of Antony and Caesar is without parallel and is perhaps intentional. The beginning of the obverse legend can be read as AVTOK, a Greek equivalent to DICT on the reverse. The possibility that this is a quasi-official issue struck for Antony's Eastern campaigns cannot be ruled out.
