Hi,
I've been caught out a few times with ancient forgeries at auction. I just bought this one and am wondering if I'm headed for another disappointment when I send it off to be sold by another auction house. There are some rust deposits front and back (like little raised bits). A small imperfection in the obverse portrait (like a little lip on VESPASIAN's jaw). 2.98 gm, 17.5mm diameter.
Does anything stand out as odd from the picture at all? Am I just a complete amateur sucker that bidded on something that others avoided and that's why I won it!? I was so pleased but maybe you wouldn't have bidded on it either if you were them! I'm particularly interested in how rust can be a sign of a fake and why. Also, is it uncommon to find rust deposits on denarius from spalling on the die and how would this appear on the coin as genuine?
Thanks!
P.S. Any tips on how to spot ancient imitations, that would be great if you could spare a few minutes for a learning girl.
