Roman Starters!

[Coinery 1,153]

Re roman coins in general, were the flan weights as carefully calculated as they were in, say, the later medieval period, where discrepancies in weight could highlight or, at least raise suspicions, about authenticity?

I know you mentioned (Peck) that fakes are not especially an issue for this area, but I was wondering whether there are parameters that roman collectors stay within before going 'hmmmm'?

[Peter 615]

Stuart

Try Michael Trenerry based in Cornwall

He doesn't have a web site but produces quality coins at good prices.

A decent brochure/list is available if you contact him by phone or Email.

I've bought several coins from him.

[copper123 1,486]

i would be surprised to find gold or silver with large discrepances in their weights .

bronze or billion would be a different matter

[Peckris 579]

Re roman coins in general, were the flan weights as carefully calculated as they were in, say, the later medieval period, where discrepancies in weight could highlight or, at least raise suspicions, about authenticity?

I know you mentioned (Peck) that fakes are not especially an issue for this area, but I was wondering whether there are parameters that roman collectors stay within before going 'hmmmm'?

That would be difficult. The denarius is largely a solid silver coin, but the later antoninianus varied from being a proper silver alloy, to being a bronze coin merely 'washed' in silver which - like seuk's GIII fakes - comes off fairly readily; however, the antoniniani are genuine issues and the quantity of silver in them depends very much on how much money the emperor needed to raise at the coinage's expense, for either his personal pleasure and aggrandisement, or for necessary wars.

As I said - buy from reliable sources until you know more about this subject. (I'm afraid I'm not an expert in the field!)