COUNTERFEIT ALERT or A Certificate is meaningless

Aethelred

The coin and certificate shown below were brought into the shop today. I wanted to post them here as a warning as there seem to be quite a few ancient collectors here and some are new to the field.

This is a counterfeit bronze Prutah of Pontius Pilate the Roman Prefect of Judaea during the Ministry of Christ. Notice the soft looking details on the coin. The coin is also slightly smaller and thinner than your would expect.



Now, look at the photo below. This coin came with a COA from a very well know dealer of "ancient" artifacts and coins. Sadigh Gallery has been in business since at least the late 1980s, they take out full color ads in popular publications like "Biblical Archaeology Review" and publish well made catalogs of artifacts and coins for sale.

However, almost all of the items that Sadigh Gallery sells are FAKES! They have been flooding the market with fakes and worthless COAs for years and it has been proven countless times that items they have sold are modern reproductions. In spite of this, Sadigh Gallery has yet to be shut down and "respected" publications like "Biblical Archaeology Review" continue to accept their ads (and thus assist them is selling counterfeit coins and artifacts).

If you are new to ancient coins or artifacts, PLEASE don't allow yourself to be tempted by these people, only deal with respected dealers who know and stand behind the items they sell.

IstilllikeZARcoins

We should each phone them and explain that it's wrong to sell fakes.........

Then we should post same on the US coin forum.

johnsim03

The real kicker for this sad scenario is that the original price for the item, with "certificate," was probably
3-4 times (or more) what the regular price for the genuine article in similar grade from a reputable dealer would have
been. So, the novice buyer gets whacked 3 times. Once, because the certificate of authenticity is no good, i.e., the
item is fake; secondly, he gets overcharged to begin with; and thirdly, he discovers all of this when trying to resell.

End result is = All dealers are crooks. At least in the collector's mind.

Posts like this are important - thanks for sharing.

John

Aethelred

<< <i>Posts like this are important - thanks for sharing. >>



Thank you, I am planning on doing a "COUNTERFEIT ALERT" series.

zeebob

I happened to be in Sacramento CA last Friday. I knew there was a coin show so I adjusted my itinerary to made a little time to get to the show before it closed.

At the back of the little room this show was in (a nice show overall BTW), there was a dealer set up with nothing but anceints. Well to be fair, I think the sign said something like 600BC-1600AD. I spent some time oogling the wares, but in the end I just couldn't bring myself to buy anything.

I've wanted to begin collecting ancients but am just freaked out by the authenticity issue. At least with US coins there is some re-assurance that can be found in the TPG services. But the only slabs I've seen ancients in are IGC and I haven't gotten a warm feeling about that company's ethics or practices.

I very much appreciate the original post. I will stear clear of Sadigh Gallery.

I have wondered if maybe I bid/buy from Stacks (they occasionally get some beautiful ancients) if I would be less likely to be stuck with a fake. Aethelred, what are you thoughs? How does a fella know when he's buying an authentic coin?

BigAlan

"popular publications like "Biblical Archaeology Review"" = "touched bt the hand of Jesus"

COAs are only as good as the issuer.

johnsim03

<< <i>I happened to be in Sacramento CA last Friday. I knew there was a coin show so I adjusted my itinerary to made a little time to get to the show before it closed.

At the back of the little room this show was in (a nice show overall BTW), there was a dealer set up with nothing but anceints. Well to be fair, I think the sign said something like 600BC-1600AD. I spent some time oogling the wares, but in the end I just couldn't bring myself to buy anything.

I've wanted to begin collecting ancients but am just freaked out by the authenticity issue. At least with US coins there is some re-assurance that can be found in the TPG services. But the only slabs I've seen ancients in are IGC and I haven't gotten a warm feeling about that company's ethics or practices.

I very much appreciate the original post. I will stear clear of Sadigh Gallery.

I have wondered if maybe I bid/buy from Stacks (they occasionally get some beautiful ancients) if I would be less likely to be stuck with a fake. Aethelred, what are you thoughs? How does a fella know when he's buying an authentic coin? >>



Your concerns are perfectly understandable.

It's the old thing of know your coins, OR, know your dealer. The key thing is to not invest too much money while you are learning the ropes.
If I were seriously starting out in ancients today, the first thing I would do would become a lurker on the Classical Numismatics Discussion Board. Then, after choosing an area I thought I might be interested in, I would make some modest purchases
from FORVM, CNG, HJB, Josh (CIVITAS here) or any one of numerous reputable dealers out there. Beware of any dealer who does not have a lifetime
authenticity guarantee and a reasonable return privilege. Participate in the board mentioned above and you will become impressed with the knowledge
and helpful people there! Once you specialize in an area, you will eventually become an expert in it, by asking questions, studying, and, most importantly,
viewing a lot of coins!

John

Aethelred

Bob, I understand how you feel and I know a lot of people share those feelings. However, it would be a shame to avoid collecting ancient coins out of fear of buying a fake. You can learn so much about ancient history and have so much fun doing it, don't let fear cause you to miss out on that.

My advice:
1. Look at as many real ancient coins as you can, that way when do do come across a fake you'll know right off that something isn't right.
2. Read books about ancient counterfeits like "Not Kosher" by David Hendin and "Classical Deception" by Wayne Sayles.
3. Deal with people who stand behind what they sell, know their field and have a good rep.

If you do the above things, you will reduce the odds of buying a bad coin. It may still happen, but it can also happen with a Bust Half or Large Cent. So far this year I have seen at least 50 fake Morgan Dollars for each fake ancient that has come my way, so while it is a problem, it is not a huge problem as long as you are dealing with honest people.

zeebob

Johnsim03 and Aethelred:

Thank you both for the leads on information. I'll check out the books and have already begun lurking! Ancients are very cool, I just have to get up the courage to drop some coin on them. Your leads will help me with that!

Take care fellas,

Bob

AuldFartte

Thanks so much for the alert, Æthelred.

I think the olde dead king deserves a DPOTD for providing this information. What say ye ...

savoyspecial

Great Job Michael! You are truly the Ralph Nader of Numismatics

do you think there is a hint to be found in the verbage alone:

'guaranteed to be from the period stated'........hmmm, doesnt say its real now does it?



thanks for posting this
greg

Aethelred

<< <i>Great Job Michael! You are truly the Ralph Nader of Numismatics

do you think there is a hint to be found in the verbage alone:

'guaranteed to be from the period stated'........hmmm, doesnt say its real now does it?

thanks for posting this
greg >>



Well Greg, the period stated on the cert is AD 26-36, but this coin was made c. AD 1985. Mr. Sadigh would take his grandmother's last dime and give her a fake something in return. I would call him "pond scum," but if I did real pond scum might be able to sue me.

percyb

Good eye!