Constantine I SPES PVBLIC

[Victor]

Here is a nice example of this rare type in the current Nomos auction.

[Nikko]

And a second one currently for sale.

[Victor]

And a second one currently for sale.

If you don't mind...is this for sale on eBay or another auction site?

[Nikko]

And a second one currently for sale.

If you don't mind...is this for sale on eBay or another auction site?

On ebay for about 2000â,¬.
Altough i'm thinking to try to buy it, i have some doubts about the authenticity because the style is quite differnet respect the nomos coin and the few others i noticed on acsearch.

[seth]

I also think there is something a bit off w/ that obverse. But 2k would a great price for the nomos one

[Nikko]

The Nomos one is of course smoothed but probably genuine... i think it will go for more than 2k.

[Victor]

It is hard to be sure about the eBay example from the picture alone. The obverse is not in very good shape, which could be intentional in order to hide something. Plus it looks like the obverse was shot at a bit of an angle, which doesn't help. I would be very hesitant anytime I was considering this type from eBay, especially at the price it is listed for.


p.s.  the flan crack does not look at all right, more like what you would expect to see from a cast.

[Nikko]

Also, the obverse has some corrosions but the reverse has smooth fields.
It could be ancient but with a heavily tooled reverse resambling a SPES PVBLIC.

This is the reason why a asked to guess the mint from the portrait, because in some similar cases the forger used Siscia or Thessa nummus to create the Spes Pvblic.

https://www.academia.edu/1469458/Highly_Deceptive_Forgeries_of_Constantine_s_SPES_PVBLIC_Coinage

[Victor]

If you needed more reason to stay far away from it, the second SPES is for sale by a well-known seller of fakes whose eBay name is victoriqn