Warning: I spent $80 on a 'real' Roman coin that turned out to be a bad fake

I mean, I should have known better, but I got excited at this little antique market in Austin. This seller had a whole box of coins and said this one was from the 3rd century, found near an old dig site. It looked cool and had a price tag of $80, which seemed about right for something real but not super rare, you know? I bought it and took it to a local museum event where they had an expert look at stuff. He held it for like two seconds and said the patina was totally wrong, like it was made in a garage last week. The metal felt off too, way too light. I basically paid for a lesson in being too trusting. Has anyone else gotten burned on fake artifacts from those kind of markets? How do you even check on the spot?

3 comments

3 Comments

angela7287d ago

Happens all the time with more than just coins. I see it with vintage jewelry and old pottery now too. The whole market feels flooded with stuff that just looks old. I bought a "depression era" bowl once that chipped and showed bright white modern ceramic underneath. You really have to learn the small details, like how real wear looks versus sandpaper scratches. It makes you second guess every interesting find.

alex8207d ago

Ugh, I read some antique dealers are now using actual period dirt to fake patina on new stuff.

wood.jana6d ago

My local auction house got caught doing that with Victorian picture frames last year. I started using a jeweler's loupe to check for tool marks under the supposed grime. Real wear follows the grain of the wood, but faked dirt often sits on top of fresh sanding scratches. It takes a minute, but it stops me from buying a brand new frame for a hundred bucks.