|
Forgeries of
ancient coins and how to detect them |
Bulgarian Forgeries
In earlier days Beirut was the hub of
activity for forgers, and many very dangerous forgeries still originate in that
area. Since the fall of the Communist regime, Bulgaria has also emerged as a
major center of forgery activity in many different areas, one of which is
ancient coins.
The best known Bulgarian imitator
of ancient coins is Slavey Petrov. He is presently a dealer in coins and
antiquities in Munich, who formerly had a workshop and gallery in Haskovo,
Bulgaria where he produced a variety of imitations of ancient coins. The best
description of his work is that he did not attempt to exactly imitate ancient
coins, but instead produced imitations according to his own artistic
interpretations. In many cases these interpretations were very different from the
originals, however he sometimes achieved striking works of art. A catalogue of
his known coin imitations has been posted online and may be viewed
here. He
signs some of his more artistic dies, and examples of these may be viewed
here.
Bulgarian coin imitations come
from many different studios and die engravers, with varying levels of talent, but they are all
commonly referred to as Slaveys, a tribute of sorts to the best known Bulgarian
imitator. Very few of the imitations commonly referred to as Slaveys
are actually from the hand of Slavey Petrov.
Even the best Bulgarian
imitations are easily recognized by an experienced numismatist when closely
compared to a genuine example. When encountered in circumstances that do not
permit such close study, at coin shows for example, they can sometimes be
deceptive, especially when post striking conditioning (including artificial
wear and toning/patination) is well executed.
Reference Books
Four useful reference books have recently been published on Bulgarian imitations
and forgeries:
(to
acquire one of these books click on the image)
 |
MODERN
COUNTERFEITS AND REPLICAS OF ANCIENT GREEK AND ROMAN COINS FROM BULGARIA
by Ilya Prokopov, Kostadin Kissyov and Eugeni Paunov.
Format: Softcover, 76pp.
ISBN: 954-91396-1-1
Publisher: Stoyan Popov
Pub. Date: 2003
This book began as a pamphlet or
privately circulated manuscript in 1997 by three well qualified Bulgarian
numismatists concerned about the proliferation of Bulgarian imitations of
ancient coins. It was revised in 1998 and finally published in 2003.
204 replicas in gold, silver and bronze are described. Many are from the
hand of Slavey Petrov.
Referred to as Prokopov
et al. 2003 when cited. |
 |
CONTEMPORARY COIN
ENGRAVERS AND COIN MASTERS FROM BULGARIA - "LIPANOFF" STUDIO
by Ilya Prokopov
Format: Softcover, 88pp.
ISBN: 954-91396-3-8
Publisher: Stoyan Popov
Pub. Date: 2004
Prokopov continues the series with an in
depth discussion of the productions of another well known Bulgarian imitator
of ancient coins. Some of these imitations are deceptive.
Referred to as Prokopov
Lipanoff 2004 when cited. |
 |
CAST FORGERIES OF CLASSICAL COINS
FROM BULGARIA
by Ilya
Prokopov and Eugeni Paunov
(Coin Collections and Coin Hoards from
Bulgaria no. 3)
Format: Softcover, 88pp.
ISBN: 954-91396-4-6
Publisher: Stoyan Popov
Pub. Date: 2004
The
third book in this
series. 112 modern
or ancient cast forgeries of Greek and Roman coins
in gold, silver, copper and bronze are catalogued and illustrated.
11 contemporary Roman cast
counterfeits from Moesia are
discussed. Next a pseudo-hoard of 76 fake
and genuine Roman Imperial coins is presented. A
special section is devoted to a rubber/plastic negative matrix for making
cast copies of Roman Imperial denarii.
Referred to
as Prokopov Cast Forgeries 2004 when cited. |
 |
COUNTERFEIT STUDIOS AND THEIR
COINS by
Ilya Prokopov and Rumen
Manov (Coin Collections and Coin Hoards from
Bulgaria no. 4)
Format: Softcover, 88pp.
ISBN:
Publisher: Stoyan Popov
Pub. Date: 2005
This book
presents 109 Bulgarian coin
imitations, 70 of which are newly discovered
forgeries. With almost every
example there is a detailed analysis of how
to examine the specimen
to successfully recognize it as a forgery, and an
attribution to the forgery studio that
produced it. 30
examples from the private collection of Mr. Rumen
Manov are next presented. Many
were previously catalogued
in another book which could not be published, and are
shown here with better illustrations. 9
uncertain examples are then
presented for discussion of whether
or not they are forgeries.
Referred to
as Prokopov Counterfeit Studios 2005 when cited. |
Some
Bulgarian Forgeries
The "coins" illustrated here
were all intentionally acquired as imitations, for purposes of study.
|
Imitation |
Description |
Genuine Example |
Reference |
Comments |
 |
Istros Drachm |
 |
|
Not by Slavey Petrov |
 |
Lysimachos Drachm |
 |
|
Not by Slavey Petrov |
 |
Nikomedes Tetradrachm |
 |
|
Not by Slavey Petrov |
 |
Philip II Tetradrachm |
 |
Prokopov et al. 2003, 99 |
Not by Slavey Petrov |
 |
Augustus Denarius |
  |
|
Not by Slavey Petrov
a "mule" of two genuine types |
 |
Augustus Denarius |
 |
|
Not by Slavey Petrov |
 |
Caligula Denarius |
 |
|
Not by Slavey Petrov |
 |
Drusus Denarius |
 |
|
Not by Slavey Petrov |
 |
Nero Denarius |
 |
|
Not by Slavey Petrov |
 |
Vitellius Denarius |
 |
|
Not by Slavey Petrov |
 |
Titus Denarius |
.jpg) |
|
Not by Slavey Petrov
Genuine type is an aureus |
 |
Lucius Verus Denarius |
A fantasy piece, there are no genuine
examples of this reverse type. It appears in genuine coins of Gordian I. |
|
Not by Slavey Petrov |
 |
Pertinax Denarius |
 |
|
Not by Slavey Petrov |
 |
Pescennius Niger Denarius |
 |
|
Not by Slavey Petrov |
 |
Septimius Severus Denarius |
A fantasy piece, there are no genuine
examples of this type |
Prokopov et al. 2003, 142? |
Possibly by Slavey Petrov |
 |
Septimius Severus Denarius |
A fantasy piece, there are no genuine
examples of this type |
|
Possibly by Slavey Petrov
Same obverse die as last example |
 |
Diadumenian Denarius |
 |
|
Not by Slavey Petrov |
 |
Orbiana Denarius |
 |
|
Not by Slavey Petrov |
 |
Aquilia Severa Sestertius |
 |
|
Not by Slavey Petrov |
 |
Gordian I Denarius |
 |
Prokopov et al. 2003, 158? |
Possibly by Slavey Petrov |
 |
Gordian II Denarius |
 |
|
Not by Slavey Petrov |
 |
Gordian II Denarius |
A fantasy piece, there are no genuine
examples of this type |
Same obverse die as last example |
Not by Slavey Petrov |
 |
Otacilia Severa Denarius |
 |
|
Not by Slavey Petrov |
 |
Otacilia Severa Sestertius |
 |
|
Not by Slavey Petrov |
 |
Uranius Antoninus Tetradrachm |
A fantasy piece, there are no genuine
examples of this type |
|
Not by Slavey Petrov |
 |
Paulina Denarius |
 |
|
Not by Slavey Petrov |
 |
Trajan Decius Denarius |
 |
|
Not by Slavey Petrov
Genuine type is an aureus |
 |
Herennia Etruscilla Denarius |
A fantasy piece, no genuine denarii of
Etruscilla exist |
|
Not by Slavey Petrov |
 |
Licinius Argenteus |
A fantasy piece, no genuine examples
exist |
|
Not by Slavey Petrov |
|
