Casts, Copies, and Forgeries

What is the difference between a fake, a replica and a copy? Is it in their form, or in their purpose? The designation of an artefact as a fake is often a matter of perspective.


In societies that value and commodify the material remains of the ancient past, fakes are often made for deceptive purposes. Replicas usually try to reproduce the original carefully, whereas a copy, based on the original, might be made simply for enjoyment.

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7) Denarius of Augustus C.056

White Metal, Imitation of Roman Coin, 29 BC - 27 BC

Purchased from Hesperia Art, Philadelphia, 1963. 

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8) Denarius of Augustus C.058

Silver, Roman, 20 BC - 16 BC

Purchased from Munzen und Medaillen, Basel, 1964.. 

Coin 7 is a fake Denarius of Augustus, purchased by the Museum as a genuine coin in 1963. Compare this to Coin 8, purchased a year later, which is a genuine silver Denarius of Augustus. The two coins are of different types, but show how difficult it can be to tell real from fake. The fake coin is a copy of a real type, but the metal is not silver (it sounds 'wrong' when struck) and the edges have been filed, a tell-tale sign of a forgery. 

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9) Follis of Justinian C.196

Base Metal, Imitation of Byzantine Coin, AD 539/40

Acquired prior to 2004. 

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10) Follis of Justin II C.193

Base Metal, Byzantine from Constantinople, AD 569-70

Acquired prior to 2004. 

Likewise Coins 9 & 11 are both clever fakes. What about them do you think suggests they are not genuine? The material and surface of Coin 9 are very strange compared to its original counterpart, Coin 10. Coin 11 is more difficult, but notice the very straight edges compared to the genuine coin of Vespasian, Coin 12. Often identifying a fake requires the comparison of many different features. 

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11) Denarius of Vespasian C.073

White Metal, Imitation of Roman Coin, AD 73

Gift of Mr R King, before 2000. 

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12) Hemidrachm of Vespasian C.074

Silver, Roman, from Caeseraea, AD 69-79

Purchased from Hesperia Art, Philadelphia. 

Casts, Copies, and Forgeries