Counterfeits
Forgeries

The following coins are not genuine or have been modified, either contemporaneously or in more modern times. They are presented to help you understand and identify fraudulent coins. In general, coins made in the same era, by other than the authorized minting authority, are called counterfeits, and those imitations created in more modern times forgeries. Even coins in reputable collections of major institutions must be considered suspect unless the provenance (a pedigree or "proof of origin") establishes the coin as found in context at a controlled archeological site.

Counterfeits are difficult to identify because they were made in ancient times, probably by artisans familiar with the methods used to mint the genuine coins, or possibly illicit manufacture by mint personnel. We do not yet fully understand the methods used to mint Parthian coins, nor the contemporary imitations. Counterfeits are of special interest to numismatists since they were made to deceive people of the time, and thus may represent coin designs or inscriptions copied from genuine coins otherwise unknown to us.

fourrée (plated) coins may be genuine or fall into either the counterfeit or forgery categories. Due to their special nature, I treat them as a separate category. See the fourrée coins page.

Modern forgeries are not a recent phenomenon. In Hamadan, apart from coins, few objects ascribed to the Hellenistic, Parthian, or Sasanian periods have been reported. The suspicious absence of other antiquities but plentiful supply of coins was noted by both Brüsch (I, p. 364) and Flandin (p. 383). They refer to a thriving trade in the mid-1800s producing fake antiquities for the European market, especially Hellenistic and Sasanian coins bearing the effigies of Alexander or Ardashir, but assuredly also Parthian coins. In the late 19th century, the excavation for antiquities in large areas in and around the city of Hamadan was "a systematic industry, farmed out by the government for revenue." (Wilson, p. 156) In the mid-1970s, I observed the large quantity of fraudulent Parthian coins in the bazaars of Tehran, Esfahan, Shiraz, Damascus and Kabul. There is no reason to believe this trade has abated, and thus purchasers of Parthian coins must be very wary. Additionally, the latest technologies are adopted by forgers who are now producing ultra-modern fakes from electro-erosion copied dies.

For an excellent study, read the IBSCC Bulletin on Counterfeits, Vol 19, no. 2 (1994/1995). This richly illustrated issue contains "Forgeries and Inventions of Parthian Coins : Gold Coins of Vonones I and Silver Drachms of Osroes I, Vologases V and VI, Artabanus IV, and of Artabanus IV with the name Tiridates" by Dr. Alan Walker. The condemnation of the coins by Walker and the International Bureau for the Suppression of Counterfeit Coins was contested by Dr. G. R. F. Assar, and the issue went to binding arbitration. The expert assigned to arbitrate was Prof. T. V. Buttrey, noted numismatist and Keeper Emeritus of the Fitzwilliam Coin Cabinet, Cambridge University. The arbitrator decided in favor of Dr. Walker and the IBSCC; a précis of the expert's report was published in the Counterfeit Coin Bulletin, November 2001.

Please leave your comments on the feedback page where you can post a public message or send private e-mail on this topic. However, I will not provide authentication of your coins. For an excellent discussion of authentic versus fake ancient coins, see Ancient Coins & Modern Fakes by Dennis J. Kroh.

Counterfeits

There are three coins in the American Numismatic Society coin cabinet listed as Parthian counterfeits, but I have not yet determined if they are contemporaneous counterfeits in the context of the definitions above: Artabanus III (ANS 1986.69.20), Mithradates II (ANS 1986.69.21) and Menander (ANS 1984.66.43). I would not normally carry a coin of Menander as a Parthian coin, but will leave it listed with the ANS "Parthian" attribution until I have inspected it.

Forgeries

This page last updated 10 Mar 2023