Fake Coins

As a part of a larger project on Roman statuettes in Hungary we have also investigated the "restorations" and "improvements", carried out over the past centuries on most of the earlier pieces we have analysed. The statuettes were acquired from excavations, donated by private collectors or possibly bought from other countries and underwent various treatments. An artificial patina, in the form of a black lacquer, was applied to most of the figurines. Our examination showed that it is possible to distinguish the ones employed in the 19th century – or even earlier – from the reddish-brown ones employed in the early 20th century. Interestingly, these treatments show notable similarities to the artificial patinations applied to Roman objects recovered in the same periods discovered at Pompeii and elsewhere in the area. Interventions with electrolysis can also interfere with surface analysis of older museum pieces. Another noteworthy aspect is the range of “improvements”, additions and “repairs” performed on some of the statuettes. In several cases, missing limbs, body parts or attributes were reconstructed by the “restorers” who tried to “improve” the objects by coating them with some kind of artificial patina to homogenize their appearance. This is a relatively common phenomenon that can be observed in most of the collections acquired by larger museums in different ways in the 18th and the 19th centuries.
The primary aim of this paper is to highlight the impact that older “restorations” of various kind can have on surface analyses of the artifacts. This paper presents some case studies from the Hungarian National Museum in Budapest and compares them to artefacts from other Roman sites in Italy.

The essay examines the role of the medal in the visual strategy of monarchy in Europe. After a first chapter on the links between antiquarian culture and modern medals in the French monarchy, the next one considers the history of metal as a portrait of the State and the Nation from a European perspective. Finally, the last chapter focuses on a case study, Malta in the 18th century, allowing the author to assess the effectiveness of the medal and the history of metal as a medium for constructing the royal and state image.

Dei vari falsi d'epoca delle monete dei Borbone, del regno Delle due Sicilie, si esamina un  interessante esemplare del  tornesi  a nome di Ferdinando I (già IV) di Borbone -.  La moneta, raffigurata in figura , è in rame, coniata, le principali differenze con quella originale  sono:   Ringraziamenti: Si ringrazia S. Russo.  Santone Realino nasce a Guardiagrele (CH) il // e vive a Fileo (CH). Perito eleronico, da oltre  anni col- lezionista e appassionato di monete medievali, si specializza sulle monete abruzzesi, autore di diversi articoli su Panorama  Numismatico, socio N.I.A. (Numismatici Italiani Associati), Perito Numismatico della CCIAA di CHIETI n. .  aderni di laMoneta.it.

19th century forgeries of portuguese hammered coins, some of them long time identified as fake, while others are still presented as genuine in auction catalogues and in the Alberto Gomes catalogue. All the coins are from the same style and origin.

Since the year 2018, a lot of fake Sancho I morabitins have entered the market through the catalogues of several auction houses. After the first 5 coins, in 2023, new dies, from the same style and origin, have appeared, meaning that the "morabitins factory" is still active and producing fake coins. I had a really tough time to convince the portuguese numismatic comunity that these coins were fake. Several examplars are even certified by NGC, and the auction houses don't recognize these coins as fake. I hope this small text, but mainly the images of the 7 fake examplars, can clear all doubts.

Uno de los grandes aportes que ha hecho la Argentina a la Criminalistica es, sin dudas, la creacion del metodo scopometrico. Su aplicacion desde su incorporacion hasta nuestros dias ha sido crucial para contestar interrogantes de interes judicial, permitiendo la identificacion de elementos como vainas y proyectiles (en sus comienzos) hasta documentos, firmas, tarjetas plasticas e incluso, papel-moneda y moneda metalica. La falsificacion de moneda es un delito que existe desde que el dinero circula en la sociedad, y persiste en la actualidad, siendo necesario recurrir a tecnicas que permitan su deteccion. El metodo scopometrico posee una serie de pasos generales aplicables a cualquier material pero bien definidos, que deben adecuarse al objeto concreto de analisis. En este articulo se pretende adaptar el metodo a la moneda metalica de curso legal, estableciendo los elementos a analizar para arribar correctamente a una conclusion categorica.

Les contremarques au tigre sur les monnaies napoléoniennes Résumé.-Une série de monnaies napoléoniennes ont été contremarquées par ce que les numismates d'aujourd'hui appellent généralement une tête de chouette, y voyant au surplus une fantaisie moderne appliquée près d'un siècle après le Premier Empire. Cet article, qui fait connaître 47 de ces exemplaires, démontre qu'il ne s'agit pas d'une fantaisie apocryphe mais bien d'une marque d'exécration datant de 1815, dénonçant Napoléon le tigre (désormais encagé). Cette contremarque ne présente aucun lien avec les Chouans ou la Vendée, comme il est soutenu dans les récents catalogues. Summary.-Several Napoleonic coins were overstruck with what present-day numismatists generally call an owl's head. This was thought to be a product of modern fantasy applied to the coins a century or so after the Napoleonic period. Forty-seven specimens have been collected. These show beyond any doubt that this was no late fantasy, but rather a mark of execratio made in 1815 which referred to Napoleon the Tiger (now confined in a cage). There is no connection here with the Chouans of Vendée as it is claimed in some recent catalogues. * Bibliothèque royale de Belgique et École Pratique des Hautes Études.

Dei vari falsi d'epoca delle monete dei Borbone, del regno Delle due Sicilie, si esamina un  interessante esemplare del  tornesi  a nome di Ferdinando I (già IV) di Borbone -.  La moneta, raffigurata in figura , è in rame, coniata, le principali differenze con quella originale  sono:  al D ritrao del sovrano di stile grossolano, capigliatura, corona, leere della legenda;  al R corona di disegno diverso, leere della legenda piú grandi e non allineate;  al R caraeri della data di grandezza diversa, in questo esemplare è da notare in particolare  il numero ;  peso leggermente inferiore;  contorno non perfeamente liscio. Si conosce un secondo esemplare proveniente dalla stessa coppia di conii. esti falsi d'epoca  sono piú rari rispeo alle monete originali, abbastanza ricercati dai collezionisti, anche perchè  hanno circolato. Perchè falsificare monete in rame? Si guadagnava sul peso del metallo che era minore rispeo  agli esemplari originali, con un coppia di conii "approntati alla buona"; si potevano generare un  elevato numero di pezzi, inoltre il rame era un metallo di facile reperimento molto usato dagli  artigiani.  Ringraziamenti: Si ringrazia S. Russo.  Santone Realino nasce a Guardiagrele (CH) il // e vive a Fileo (CH). Perito eleronico, da oltre  anni col- lezionista e appassionato di monete medievali, si specializza sulle monete abruzzesi, autore di diversi articoli su Panorama  Numismatico, socio N.I.A. (Numismatici Italiani Associati), Perito Numismatico della CCIAA di CHIETI n.  .  aderni di laMoneta.it.

Over the last two decades, together with the increasing prices in the antique market and the proliferation of private 'hobby collectors', the number of fakes in circulation among antique shops, auctions and even institutions and museums has noticeably increased. So called 'bronzes' seem to be the favourite objects for both fakers and inexperienced collectors. In some cases the fakes are well made, so that often the professional can be fooled by them also. In this paper some examples of modern and ancient fake objects will be discussed.

Los leprosos son a menudo mencionados en las Sagradas Escrituras como víctimas de una enfermedad que se puede considerar endémica en aquellos tiempos y lugares bíblicos debido a las condiciones climatológicas, la escasa higiene y la falta de medios profilácticos.

A. A. Alazbâ 4gricultural Engineering Deput'ufient. Calirye of lgriculture , King Saud L{niv'ersi4,. p.it,oOL. ,\uittli Arubia ABSTRACT' Ti:e Penrnan-l\iontcilh lnodel \\as assessed for h3'pcr-arid ciinrate. rvhich prevails iu nlosi areas ol Saudi Arabia, par.ticularly in the central regions. Atso, four different tbnns of the Penma* combilration i-r'pe-equation for the estimates of alfalla refcrence e'l'apotratlspiration l,lIT,u) hare bcen investigaled. The tested models, in additi,:in to the Penman-Monteilh. includeri the Penrnan i982 Kinrbcrll'; thc Penniati i972 Kirnbcrly: the Penuran uncorrc.cted FAO-24; and the Penman equarion locally calibrated for *ind function. The results reveal tliat tire Penman-Monteith is a good estimatcr o{ ET,.,1 undcr hvper-arid conditions. f he model provided betler ET,4 prcdictions ivith modification of the leaf area index (Zl1) equation.In accordance n'ith tlre modified LAI equation" thc standard error of estimatcs (Sf$ for tire model rcduced lrom 1.59 to about i.0 rnrrr/da-v. The results also showed that the localiy calibrated Peninan model is highl,v suitahle for the central part of Saudi Arabia. I'he Pentnan 1982 and 1972 Kimberl;' models fairll estimated I7,., n ith advantageLrus to the Iater one. The Penman uncorected FAO-ll largely underestimated tlie alfalla relerence evapotranspiration andinherentl-v. has the largest SEI tlrat eqr:als 2.81 mm'dar. lt. hou'ever, was possible to reduce itŝ iEE to 0.81 mmr'dal * i1h usin,g an allalfa*grass conversion ratio of-1-2i.-55 in lir.u o1'1.15. Key v:orit : evap()tr(tnspirulion, et)ilpt)lrutnsltiration metheds, hyperarid ciittttrte.re.f'erence eyepolransltiratirsrt, Pettntun' Montcith model. Saudi,4ruhia. l.INTRODUCTION l.l.Gencral Global increase of water demand has obv'ioLtsil' hc-corre a fact duc to the rapiii increase ilr lvorid popuiation. ,{itrto't aii tri titts population increase rviil be iri the Third Woricl. uher< ih.-re at'e alreadl plenty' of'rvatei-and sanitation probients and uhcre irhr-'ut i.100 peopie {tncsth' children) die even hour dr.re tr,r *aterbortle dise ases (iltruwer. :000). I'he dernand of water that includes agriculture. municipal use. atrd indnstry. is anticipated to increase rapirlly in the dereioping cctuntries. Saudi Arat:ia, anrong t.'ther courrtries ol the Arabian Peniusula, is one of tlie coutttiies suftbring most liom rapid water demand and acute t'ater sltortage (Alazlra. 1998). lhis is altributeci to the scarcit-r oi precipitirtion and liurited water resources, in riddition to the lvatcr demand augtlentation. For agricultural purposes alone" tlre-abstraction oi' grrlund \r'aier is c:.-pected tu reach 20.i1 billior: m'and 12.2 biiiion tn'in the lcars 2000 and 2010. respec'rireiv" (AbduL'azzak. 199-.i. Thi-< anticipatcd iiuge increase in agricLiltural definltcir encourages ef ficicirt use of thc irrigation rvater thal is apparentl\ accountil]g tbr 9C 9'o oi the totai consuined agricuitula! $ater. fhe cftlcient usc r-'f thc rn"igation \iater can onir' tre accr-rnrplished throLrgh pitrper rnigati,:n prt-ject planrrlng altd management. Ihe proper prlanninr an.l nlanasclltent of thr' irriqation projects iuvolvc various aspects ant] nur.t-'irt,Lts iaci.-rs sLirir ',r.inter rvheai (Triticum ae\!iyum L.) at Bushland, Texas. in the semiarid Southern High Piains for the 1989-i990. 1991-1992and l99Z-1993 rvinter nheat .rLrpping scasons using rveiuiring lvsirneters.

A. A. Alazbâ 4gricultural Engineering Deput'ufient. Calirye of lgriculture , King Saud L{niv'ersi4,. p.it,oOL. ,\uittli Arubia ABSTRACT' Ti:e Penrnan-l\iontcilh lnodel \\as assessed for h3'pcr-arid ciinrate. rvhich prevails iu nlosi areas ol Saudi Arabia, par.ticularly in the central regions. Atso, four different tbnns of the Penma* combilration i-r'pe-equation for the estimates of alfalla refcrence e'l'apotratlspiration l,lIT,u) hare bcen investigaled. The tested models, in additi,:in to the Penman-Monteilh. includeri the Penrnan i982 Kinrbcrll'; thc Penniati i972 Kirnbcrly: the Penuran uncorrc.cted FAO-24; and the Penman equarion locally calibrated for *ind function. The results reveal tliat tire Penman-Monteith is a good estimatcr o{ ET,.,1 undcr hvper-arid conditions. f he model provided betler ET,4 prcdictions ivith modification of the leaf area index (Zl1) equation.In accordance n'ith tlre modified LAI equation" thc standard error of estimatcs (Sf$ for tire model rcduced lrom 1.59 to about i.0 rnrrr/da-v. The results also showed that the localiy calibrated Peninan model is highl,v suitahle for the central part of Saudi Arabia. I'he Pentnan 1982 and 1972 Kimberl;' models fairll estimated I7,., n ith advantageLrus to the Iater one. The Penman uncorected FAO-ll largely underestimated tlie alfalla relerence evapotranspiration andinherentl-v. has the largest SEI tlrat eqr:als 2.81 mm'dar. lt. hou'ever, was possible to reduce itŝ iEE to 0.81 mmr'dal * i1h usin,g an allalfa*grass conversion ratio of-1-2i.-55 in lir.u o1'1.15. Key v:orit : evap()tr(tnspirulion, et)ilpt)lrutnsltiration metheds, hyperarid ciittttrte.re.f'erence eyepolransltiratirsrt, Pettntun' Montcith model. Saudi,4ruhia. l.INTRODUCTION l.l.Gencral Global increase of water demand has obv'ioLtsil' hc-corre a fact duc to the rapiii increase ilr lvorid popuiation. ,{itrto't aii tri titts population increase rviil be iri the Third Woricl. uher< ih.-re at'e alreadl plenty' of'rvatei-and sanitation probients and uhcre irhr-'ut i.100 peopie {tncsth' children) die even hour dr.re tr,r *aterbortle dise ases (iltruwer. :000). I'he dernand of water that includes agriculture. municipal use. atrd indnstry. is anticipated to increase rapirlly in the dereioping cctuntries. Saudi Arat:ia, anrong t.'ther courrtries ol the Arabian Peniusula, is one of tlie coutttiies suftbring most liom rapid water demand and acute t'ater sltortage (Alazlra. 1998). lhis is altributeci to the scarcit-r oi precipitirtion and liurited water resources, in riddition to the lvatcr demand augtlentation. For agricultural purposes alone" tlre-abstraction oi' grrlund \r'aier is c:.-pected tu reach 20.i1 billior: m'and 12.2 biiiion tn'in the lcars 2000 and 2010. respec'rireiv" (AbduL'azzak. 199-.i. Thi-< anticipatcd iiuge increase in agricLiltural definltcir encourages ef ficicirt use of thc irrigation rvater thal is apparentl\ accountil]g tbr 9C 9'o oi the totai consuined agricuitula! $ater. fhe cftlcient usc r-'f thc rn"igation \iater can onir' tre accr-rnrplished throLrgh pitrper rnigati,:n prt-ject planrrlng altd management. Ihe proper prlanninr an.l nlanasclltent of thr' irriqation projects iuvolvc various aspects ant] nur.t-'irt,Lts iaci.-rs sLirir ',r.inter rvheai (Triticum ae\!iyum L.) at Bushland, Texas. in the semiarid Southern High Piains for the 1989-i990. 1991-1992and l99Z-1993 rvinter nheat .rLrpping scasons using rveiuiring lvsirneters.

A translation to the portuguese language of an extract from the "Court des Monnaies", dated from 1563, found online on the Bibliothèque de France portal, and presenting ilustrations of the Batenburg imitations of portuguese cruzados, also helping to define aspects related to the chronology and circulation of those coins. It is the first time this document is known in Portugal.

Over the last two decades, together with the increasing prices in the antique market and the proliferation of private 'hobby collectors', the number of fakes in circulation among antique shops, auctions and even institutions and museums has noticeably increased. So called 'bronzes' seem to be the favourite objects for both fakers and inexperienced collectors. In some cases the fakes are well made, so that often the professional can be fooled by them also. In this paper some examples of modern and ancient fake objects will be discussed.

An Egyptian bronze statuette of the god Osiris has been discovered along with other ritual dei-ties&#39; statuettes and other metallic ritual equipment at Sais. It was temporarily inventoried with number 31/12/26/11C at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Its period, its specific burial place, and the certain excavation date were unknown. The statuette is an uncommon case; it was heavily corroded, covered with a thick crust of green corrosion products, has textile impression, missing its head, and has an unusual deep crack into its feet. It was examined, analyzed and conserved. Visual and stylistic examinations revealed that it is most probably dating to the Third Intermediate Period (1070-664 BC) or the Late Period (664-323 BC). Its style belongs to the Lower Egyptian style, and the direct solid lost-wax technique was used in the manufacturing process. Stereo-microscopic images revealed the Pseudomorph phenomenon on its surface. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that the main com...

This paper presents the results of scientific examinations and analyses carried out on the archaeological coins discovered in Najran, Saudi Arabia. Optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to investigate morphological corrosion features, to clear the nature of the patina and to analyze the elementary composition. Morphologically, it was revealed that there are reniform, coral reef and dendritic shapes of corrosion products and heterogeneous multicolor patina on the studied coins surfaces. It was proven that those coins were made of a silver-copper alloy and were covered by three superficial corrosion layers. The main composition of the coin corrosion compounds was identified as copper carbonate, copper chloride, copper silicates, silver chlorides and silver sulphide. The proposed corrosion mechanism revealed that those coins were characterized by heavy degradation phenomena, in...

... Suppose then that there exists a cause-effect relationship between flow and accident frequency µ=µ(q) in which both µ and q pertain to the same short time period. ... Estimation of the Relationship Between Accidents and Traffic Flow ABRAHAM MENSAH AND EZRA HAUER ...

La acuñación es el método de producción monetaria por excelencia. Fue utilizado para fabricar monedas desde épocas bien tempranas, lo emplearon casi todas las civilizaciones antiguas más importantes y se lo continúa utilizando hasta hoy en día. La idea es simple: Consiste en transferir un diseño, desde un cuño hacia un cospel, a través de una fuerte presión ejercida. Un cuño, es un instrumento al cual se le grabó en su superficie el diseño "en negativo" que llevará a futuro la moneda. Su material debe ser mas duro que el del cospel, para poder transferir correctamente su impronta; y a mayor dureza del mismo, tendrá también mayor vida util.

This paper describes microstructural analyses by X-ray portable diffraction and microdiffraction on intentional patina of the bronze museum objects from antique Egypt and the Roman Empire. They bring evidence of the presence in the true black bronze patinas of metallic gold and/or silver presumably as nanoparticles. Three other Egyptian patinas not belonging to black bronze are characterised. Apparent black patination on a Roman scalpel handle is discussed. The discovery of a new patination procedure on Roman artefacts from the Louvre museum is also related, based on intentional high temperature oxidation to obtain a dark patina on a lead bronze object. A presence of lead carbonate cerussite is an important observation.

fuftrtltemntfus lr i)fo(tl1c'i, rnait ifolrls ;; f tr'tlf,,. It is well knonn, ihat./ is called an a;rcl .r7 is an isometric lr,ith respect. to / [1]. \\,'e is l",r-rsi li r.elr,' clefi neci. Lre the ],evi-Clijvita connection of g and \\re denote R(.r, y, z,1r) : 1y(tt.Q:.'r.)z,tL) al rrr,l-*t plu ci. rr.cr, accept. that the the conctritie'n t: tl,:-:. rr) .= 6i'.. 'y. z,,Ju.

Following the donation of 25 Burmese lime boxes to the British Museum in 2005, selected boxes were treated and a technical study was carried out. Th e boxes are made of silver, copper, brass, cupro-nickel and black-patinated copper alloy, or combinations of these materials. Th ree types of diff erent alloy compositions (copper with 1.8% silver and 1.2% gold, copper with 10% silver or copper with 0.9% arsenic) were found for parts that are suggested to have been patinated originally. Th e use of black-patinated copper alloys and details of the construction of the boxes are described. Th e techniques encountered on these boxes include engraving, chasing and the use of niello; silver braze and copper alloy wires used as inlays were also found. Th e analyses of the alloy compositions indicate that some areas which now have a copper colour were originally intended to be patinated. Th e condition of the boxes, and conservation treatments that removed surface dirt, corrosion and lime deposits, encourage reconsideration of the original appearance of the objects and form a basis for discussing the desired appearance of the objects for future display. Th e ethical issues surrounding restoration of the patina on some of the objects are discussed.

La storia degli studi sulla monetazione astense si può far iniziare con quella che appare essere la prima illustrazione in età moderna di un grosso tornese, il cui disegno fu pubblicato nel 1710 da Natta Guiscardi. Di questa specifica tipologia di monete oggi sono note alcune decine di esemplari. Chi scrive ha in corso da alcuni anni una ricerca che prevede l'individuazione delle identità, della sequenza e del numero presunto dei conii, oltre all'analisi statistica dei dati ponderali. Proprio durante questa indagine è stato individuato un esemplare di grosso tornese con caratteristiche molto particolari, che lo rendono un unicum tra tutti quelli noti. Nell'ultimo decennio questo specifico pezzo è stato pubblicato da diversi studiosi ed è passato almeno due volte nel circuito commerciale senza mai destare alcun dubbio sulla sua genuinità. Tuttavia, analizzandolo in modo approfondito e dettagliato abbiamo notato sulla sua superficie alcuni particolari che ci hanno fatto pensare potesse trattarsi di un pezzo non genuino. Grazie al censimento in corso, effettuato presso le maggiori collezioni pubbliche e private, è stato possibile individuare una seconda moneta che inizialmente, almeno in apparenza, sembrava provenire dalla stessa coppia di conii. L’analisi approfondita delle immagini digitali e la comparazione dei dettagli superficiali hanno portato gli scriventi a stabilire con ragionevole sicurezza che una delle due monete è stata utilizzata come stampo per ottenere un suo clone mediante il metodo della microfusione a cera persa. Di seguito verranno illustrati tutti i dettagli che ci hanno portato a questa conclusione.

El Perú es un país con grandes riquezas, paisajes inigualables y culturas ancestrales. Es por ello que el Banco Central de Reserva del Perú ha decidido emitir la serie de monedas: "RIQUEZA Y ORGULLO DEL PERÚ". Con esta serie se promueve la cultura numismática y se contribuye a difundir nuestro patrimonio.

The article simply draws a first attention to the problematic surge in the last decades, and before, of falsifications of the early “transitional coinage”, both the Latin and bilingual, struck during the first years just after the 711 Umayyad invasion of the Iberian Penisula. What is worrisome is not so much that some collector, institution, or scholar gets taken in (sorry, they should have done their homework) but that these fakes enter, and they have entered, into some “scientific” peer-reviewed articles. The polemical historiography of the period has enough problems without the added distortions of modern fake coins. This article puts special emphasis on the historical dubouos indiction IX date which from being previously unknown in the last two centuries of numismatic literature of the period has suddenly metamorphosed, reproducing gremlin-wise, into many variants and will probably henceforth continue to do so. ( first corrected 17/11/2020)

Наше внимание привлекли две монеты, отнесенные В.А. Анохиным к выпускам царя Асандра: золо-тая, на реверсе которой исследователь разобрал «ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΣΑΝΔΡΟΥ ΒΟΣΠΟΡΟΥ» и бронзо-вая, с легендой «ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΣΑΝΔΡΟΥ» на оборотной стороне. Настаиваем на том, что их атри-буции, приведенные исследователем, безосновательные и ошибочные. Первая из этих монет явно новодельная, причем фантазийная. Полагаем, что ее изготовили в Новое время для доверчивых коллекционеров. Причем на ней отсутствует легенда, которую привел В.А. Анохин. Подчеркнем, что текст «ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΣΑΝΔΡΟΥ ΒΟΣΠΟΡΟΥ» вряд ли мог появиться на боспорской монете. Нема-ловажно и то, что опубликованное исследователем фото этого артефакта несет следы основательно-го ретуширования. Приведенная им надпись неразличима. Вторая монета, безусловно, подлинная, но нет оснований для отнесения ее к боспорскому чекану. Однотипные монеты известны уже не первое столетие. Речь идет об ординарных дилептонах сирийского царя Александра I Бала.

The material study of ancient coins is very often rendered particularly challenging by several factors: the presence of surface alteration products; the occasional or deliberate, e.g., forgery, changes in the composition of the base alloy; the misleading information deriving from historical and literature sources. We present herewith a multi-analytical approach to the study of ancient coins. The selected test samples are coins widely used in the Venetian Republic over a time span ranging from the second half of the 16th until the early years of the 17th century: the so-called "sesino". The rationale of the study was to establish a model, taking into account the layered structure of the surface region of the coins, that once validated could be used for a fully non-destructive characterization of similar items. The specific interest of the results obtained from this investigation is twofold. First, the actual composition of the copper based alloy used for these specific type of Venetian coin, has been measured for the first time with direct measurements on the coin cross-section. Second, the detailed characterization of the coins provides an essential background knowledge for a fully non-destructive characterization of the same kind of coins.

El presente artículo se desprende de una primera investigación más extensa pero menos precisa desarrollada para la tesina de licenciatura en Criminalística (2016) y titulada “Aplicación de técnicas de la criminalística para la determinación de falsificaciones modernas de monedas antiguas”, cuyo objetivo era analizar la efectividad de diferentes técnicas forenses para la resolución de una de las interrogantes más complejas de la numismática: la determinación de autenticidad o falsedad. Aquí se lleva a cabo un pormenorizado análisis numismático y forense sobre una pieza de origen desconocido, definiendo características que permitirían establecer una falsificación moderna, objeto de estudio de la criminalística, pero teniendo en cuenta las características de las auténticas, que son objeto de estudio de la numismática.

l. Discorrrse perspeclives arrd caleg«rries I)iscourse as a nrrilti-layered enlity ofler.s ilself lo serniotic analyses at various ranks and levels. Ily choosing standarcls ol 1exlr"rali1y (l 4.2.1) as perspeclives, I intcnd ro specily thal my analysis concerns those phenomena that specilically qualily, at the Ieirel of the tcxt, as a supersigll , ans tlrus have serniolic priority (l 2. 1) ovcr plrerrortrerra ol lhe other lcvels. Iìegarding a text as a supersign presupposes an interest in discourse as primarily a social urril, i.e. a socially rrreaninglul irrteractional evcnl.'l'his enlails ir-rvestigating semiotic relalions well beyon<l the limils of the 1ext. Among lhe slanrlarcts of textuality, I choose lo start \À/ith 'colìerellce', urhich is to be considererl prior to all the others. A text can be non--cohesive ancl slill be coherent, it can he uninformative (and boLing) or obscure and still be coherent, or inappr.opriate to a siluatiorr, or [ounri inadequate by a recipieltt, etc. ancl it can still work as a text. BLrt if il is non-coherent, it is not a text. It can be a relevant symptom from a psychological or neurological poirrt of view, but it cannol be a linguistic sign insofar as it cannot lead 1o a linal logical interpretant.

Experts have recently reported false bronze nummi with large reverse monograms of late Roman Imperial and Ostrogothic leaders. The experts include Alain Gennari and other members of Lamoneta.it, but not the present author. He is simply presenting this supplement to his paper “The Ricimer Monogram with Its Mysterious Additional A” and informing readers about the likelihood of spurious pieces thought to be of modern Serbian origin. His previous paper presented two Ricimer pieces, and here he presents two pieces with monograms interpreted as Eraric’s by some sources, but as mere fantasies by others. Some disagreement regarding authenticity appears to remain among some  experts and dealers.

NIKOLAUS PFEFFERSACK AS COUNT OF THE CHAMBER (COMES CAMERAE) OF SIBIU. CONTRIBUTION TO THE RELATION BETWEEN THE MINT AND THE TOWN’S RULING ELITE. Nikolaus Pfeffersack’s activity as count of the chamber is not mentioned in charters. Based on his mint mark on the coins (which is ligature from the viewpoint of epigraphy), it is estimated that he acted as a count of the chamber in 1438–1444. Usually medieval archontology is based on charters and the documentary value of epigraphic and numismatic sources is overlooked by the researchers. However, the case of Nikolaus Pfeffersack is a good example of how the tenure of an official can be determinded or specified with the help of coins. / NIKOLAUS PFEFFERSACK ALS KAMMERGRAF IN HERMANNSTADT. BEITRAG ZUR BEZIEHUNG ZWISCHEN MÜNZANSTALT UND STÄDTISCHEN OBERSCHICHT. Die Tätigkeit des Hermannstädter Kammergrafen Nikolaus Pfeffersack kann nach einer als Meisterzeichen auf Münzen geprägten Ligatur zwischen 1438–1444 datiert werden, da es keine urkundliche Erwähnung dieses Kammergrafen gibt. Eine mittelalterliche Archontologie kann man nur auf Basis der Urkunden zusamenstellen, deshalb berücksichtigt die Mehrheit der Forscher keinen epigraphischen und/oder numismatischen Quellen. Der Fall von Nikolaus Pfeffersack beweist aber, daß man die Tätigkeit eines Münzbeamten auch mit Prägungen datieren kann.

Last year the scientific debate has recrudesced on the beginning of coin minting in Brassó (Braşov, Romania) and in Nagyszeben (Sibiu, Romania). The written sources are interpreted based on the numismatic evidence, and thus date the Transylvanian coinage more precisely.

We have obtained many written sources and archaeological artefacts related to the counterfeiting of coins of the Hungarian Kingdom during the Middle and Early Modern Ages. Many forgeries can be found in numismatic collections, but tracing them to a specific workshop is sometimes a difficult matter. There are a number of sites, i.e. Visegrád, Buda, Esztergom, Kassa, Tevel, Bonyhádvarasd, and Szuhogy-Csorbakő, where not only counterfeit coins but other artefacts or objects (sheet metal, raw material, casting jars, and furnaces) which are obviously related to this illegal activity have been excavated. Frigyes Kahler is the
researcher who most recently (several decades ago) published articles about the counterfeiting of coins during the Middle and Early Modern Ages. Since then, many new artefacts have been found, but information about them has been published only in part, and many have not been studied by numismatists or subjected to archaeometrical investigation. Moreover, many sites and/or forgeries discussed in previous publications should be studied again using new methods and adopting new considerations. Herein we present several case studies concerning
the counterfeiting of gold and silver coins from the fifteenth to seventeenth centuries.

Dentro il falso: indagini interdisciplinari / Rethinking forgery: Interdisciplinary investigations
22 November 2017, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, Aula Mario Baratto
Global Challenges Seminar – Research Team Cultural Ecosystems

This interdisciplinary event is entirely devoted to the issues of forgeries, fakes, and counterfeits. Experts from different areas (archaeologists, architects, epigraphers, librarians and numismatists) will gather to discuss how fakes impact research in their own disciplines. By abandoning the negative attitude that scholars have traditionally had towards forgeries, we propose instead to examine them with a more constructive approach. In fact, forgeries should be interpreted as the outcome of a cultural process that reflects a relationship both with the ancient world and with the time when they were produced.
The event will take place in the main lecture hall of Ca' Foscari's central gothic building and is co-organized with the Carabinieri Art Quad - Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage.
info: global.challenges@unive.it, lorenzoc@unive.it

DIE LETZTEN JAHRE DER MITTELALTERLICHEN MÜNZPRÄGUNG
IN OFEN (BUDA).
Die Münzprägung brach nach der Schlacht bei Mohács in Ofen für einige Jahre ab. Die Ungarische Kammer schloss aber im Jahre 1529 mit Hans Haller einen Vertrag, in dem er bemächtigt wurde, im Namen von Ferdinand I. (1526–1564) in Ofen Münzen zu prägen. Die Prägeanstalt wurde nur einige Monate betrieben, sie gab Denare mit dem Münzzeichen B-H (Buda-Haller) aus. Haller fl oh vor den Truppen von König János Szapolyai (1526–1540) zusammen mit seiner Prägeanstalt nach Preβburg, wo er seine Tätigkeit fortsetzte. Er hat zuerst Denare mit Münzzeichen B-H, später mit P-H (Preβburg-Haller) geprägt. Szapolyai aber gründete in Ofen eine neue Anstalt, die zuerst Silberdenare mit Münzzeichen A-B prägte, später jene ohne Zeichen, die aber mit dem Wappen der Familie Gritti geschmückt waren. In diesen Jahren war Schatzmeister Lodovico Gritti auch für die Münzprägung verantwortlich. Seine hiesigen Münzen sind die letzten mittelalterlichen ungarischen Gelder, die in Ofen geprägt wurden.

Uno de los grandes aportes que ha hecho la Argentina a la Criminalística es, sin dudas, la creación del método scopométrico. Su aplicación desde su incorporación hasta nuestros días ha sido crucial para contestar interrogantes de interés judicial, permitiendo la identificación de elementos como vainas y proyectiles (en sus comienzos) hasta documentos, firmas, tarjetas plásticas e incluso, papel-moneda y moneda metálica. La falsificación de moneda es un delito que existe desde que el dinero circula en la sociedad, y persiste en la actualidad, siendo necesario recurrir a técnicas que permitan su detección. El método scopométrico posee una serie de pasos generales aplicables a cualquier material pero bien definidos, que deben adecuarse al objeto concreto de análisis. En este artículo se pretende adaptar el método a la moneda metálica de curso legal, estableciendo los elementos a analizar para arribar correctamente a una conclusión categórica.

During conservation of ten Burmese lime boxes in the British Museum, problems with patina were noted. One of the used materials is mylar, a black patinated copper alloy. Partial removal of surface dirt, or a wax layer, was thought to affect the appearance of the patina. In addition, XRF analysis showed that on some 'copper' boxes the metal was in fact mylar suggesting it had originally been patinated. To investigate patination techniques and options for conservation, fourteen different alloys were reproduced. Samples of these were used to test patination methods, stripping of patina, repatination and coating with wax. Optical microscopy, colour measurements and XRF analyses (x-ray fluorescence) were carried out. The method of patination by handling the metal is suggested to be most suitable for restoring the patina. However, specific conditions would be required to perform such a restoration on original material.

STADT UND MÜNZANSTALT IM SPÄTMITTELALTERLICHEN UNGARN

Während die traditionelle Organisation der Münzpräge-Kammer nur in den Bergbaugebieten fortlebte, können wir im 15. Jh. die Gründung und die neue Blütezeit derer weniger bedeutenden Münzanstalten beobachten, die nicht in Bergbaugebieten errichtet wurden (Ofen/Buda, Kaschau/ Kassa/Košice, Hermannstadt/Nagyszeben/ Sibiu, Preßburg/Pozsony/Bratislava, Klausenburg/Kolozsvár/ Cluj-Napoca, Kronstadt/Brassó/Brasov, Ödenburg/Sopron).
Diese Anstalten haben zwei wichtige gemeinsame Merkmale: sie wurden einerseits in der Regel nicht in Bergbaugebieten errichtet, und anderseits wurden sie von der Stadt selbst verwaltet. Eine weitere Übereinstimmung besteht darin, dass ihr Sitz aus juristischer Sicht immer in einer freien königlichen Stadt und nach der Bedeutung dieser immer in einer hochwertigen Stadt lag. Die Münzanstalt wurde allerorts in einem zentralen Gebäude errichtet, z. B. im Rathaus oder im Wohnhaus des Bürgermeisters. Die Verwalter der Münzanstalt kamen aus der führenden Schicht der Stadt. Die Münzpräger bildeten nur eine kleine Gruppe unter den Stadtbürgern, die aber einer besonderen Regelung im Stadtrecht bedürftig war. Diese städtischen Münzstätten gehörten nach ihrer Rentabilität und nach der Zahl der Münzpräger zu der mittleren Kategorie bzw. zu den weniger wichtigen Anstalten. Das mag der Grund dafür sein, dass in der zweiten Hälfte des 15. Jh. bis auf Hermannstadt jede städtische Münzanstalt ihre Tätigkeit aufhob, und sie erst zur Zeit der Prägung der moneta nova wieder aufnahm – mit Ausnahme derer in Ödenburg, Klausenburg und Kronstadt. In dieser Phase wurden sie aber nicht mehr von den Bürgern der Stadt, sondern von König Ludwig dem II. (1516–1526) bzw. von den Vertrauten seiner Schatzmeister verwaltet.

Mittelalterliche und frühneuzeitliche Münzfälschungen in Westungarn.
Erst 1415 erwähnt eine Urkunde die Münzfälscher in Westungarn. In den folgenden Jahrzehnten blieben aber wenige Angaben über diese Tätigkeit übrig. Kaiser Friedrich III gab ein Prägerecht einigen westungarischen Adeligen. Diese Berechtigtigten ließen falsche Münzen österreichischer Art in ihren Burgen bzw. in Städten Westungarns prägen. Nach der Schlacht Mohács wurden wieder falsche Münzen in der Burg von Ungarisch-Altenburg geprägt. Der Verfasser versucht mit der Hilfe der Urkunden und Münzen eine kurze Geschichte der Münzfälschungen in Westungarn bis zur Zeit der Königin Maria von Habsburg zu schreiben.