Posted: 3:08PM Central, 29 August 2022
Edited: 23 Sep 2025 (see Change Log, incl. ForgeryNetwork 21512-21521).
The type is RPC (vol I) 4510, an AE (c. 20mm, 9-10g) of Cleopatra VII Thea Notera, struck in Tripolis, and dated RY 2 (of Cleopatra in Phoenicia, 36/5 BC). (Or close variant, since the date is not clear on Type 2 and Type 3.) I’ve found what I believe to be three sets of casts; the individual “coins” within each set are identical in centering and shape, varying most obviously in the false patinas and other artificial weathering.
TYPE 1
I saw one of these for sale by a major auction house a couple of months ago and found it suspicious (it was from a distinguished research collection, but a relatively recent addition in 2012 from a premier auction house). When I checked RPC Online, I saw two others that increased my suspicions.
In my view, most or all of those below must be cast fakes. (Including RPC 4510 ex. 8 and ex. 9; they’ve taken 8 down now as the “digital plate coin,” but you can still see them as of 30 Aug 22.) I call these ones “Type 1” (the other two types below).
I don’t assign any blame, incompetence, or dishonesty to any of the auctioneers involved. This is how the process works: The benefit of public auctions and their archives is that members of the public can scrutinize the coins and find anything suspicious (and, likewise, use the genuine ones for new scholarship). For that, they are to be commended. It is regrettable, though, that most of these sold for over $1,000 USD, and up to roughly $6,300 (adjusting for currency conversion and buyer premium).
As indicated in the image, all Type 1 specimens are 20mm with a 12h die-axis; the reported weights are 9.26g, 9.66g, 9.78g, 9.82g, 9.99g, 10.10g. They were sold in the following years: 2005, 2010 (x2), 2012, 2022 (x3).
Those are just what I found in a quick search. I’m sure there are many other specimens.
TYPES 2 & 3
There appear to be at least two other sets of “dies”/casts from which similar forgeries have been produced. They’ve appeared on the market during a comparable time frame: 2010-2011 for Type 2; 2013-2020 for Type 3. These ones also have reported die-axes of 12h, but diameters of 21mm. The weight ranges are 7.53-10.06g and 7.90-8.30g, respectively. One of these was provenanced to an (undated) “Private UK Collection.”
Again, this is based only on a quick convenience search, the purpose of which was simply documentation of extant types, not a census or random sample of specimens. There are surely more examples, and possibly more varieties of cast, presumably being produced by the same actor(s).
NOTES
If anyone disagrees, please let me know.
I’ve added these to Forum’s Fake Reports in two separate reports (you may need a FORVM login to go directly to the URL):
Type 1 (six specimens): https://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/displayimage.php?pid=22444
Type 2 & Type 3 (two each): https://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/displayimage.php?pid=22445
Other Notes: I haven’t found any other mention of these fakes elsewhere, or any fakes of Cleopatra Tripolis AEs (e.g., on Forum Fake Reports or Forgery Network). If anyone has seen it pointed out before, please let me know. [Update: user mdelvalle has added all of the above examples to FN.]
I’ve shared the info with an auction house where one is live now but I believe they will be withdrawing it shortly. [Update: withdrawn.]
I notified RPC; they removed specimen nine as the “digital plate coin,” but specimens eight and nine can still be seen on the website. [Update: RPC now notes that “Specimens 8 and 9 are probably forgeries”.]
Change Log (return to top):
29 Aug 2022: commentary about my notification of an auctioneer and RPC, and the link to my post of the first group to FORVM.
30 Aug 2022: I’ve added the second two types, bringing the total to 10 examples across three types. Minor updates re: responses I received. I’ve integrated the previous edits into the main text, rather than keeping them in separately dated/timed paragraphs.
23 Sep 2025: The images above were added to ForgeryNetwork by mdelvalle (not sure how long ago), including links to their original ACSearch records: 21512, 21513, 21514, 21515, 21516, 21517, 21518, 21519, 21520, 21521.