Coinmaster Posted January 23, 2023 · Member Share Posted January 23, 2023 Hi all, Does anyone have good examples of smoothing and tooling of coins and tips how to recognise this? Thanks! (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=smoothing) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prieure de Sion Posted January 23, 2023 · Member Share Posted January 23, 2023 It’s a kind of definition. Ca. 3/4 or more Bronze coins who looks good are tooled and/or smoothed. Otherwise no one will buy them. Its important don’t create a new coin at the Restauration. But if you must clean the coin from big patina - you must tooled and smooth it. But again - if you tooled it in original state - I see no problem. But if you create a new hairstyle, new face style or details about it are invented… that’s a no go (for me). 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ocatarinetabellatchitchix Posted January 24, 2023 · Member Share Posted January 24, 2023 (edited) 2 hours ago, Coinmaster said: Does anyone have good examples of smoothing and tooling of coins and tips how to recognise this? Read this thread, more than 300 examples there. If you can go through it without crying, PM me and I’ll give you a coin… https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=53363.0 Edited January 24, 2023 by Ocatarinetabellatchitchix 5 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPK Posted January 24, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted January 24, 2023 Man, that's sobering. I'd be fooled by some of them, easy. 😬 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roman Collector Posted January 24, 2023 · Patron Share Posted January 24, 2023 Tooled coins appear to have unexpectedly too much detail, even on the high points that would be affected by circulation wear. Here are a couple of examples of this IVNO sestertius of Faustina I that have been extensively tooled. This one sold for several hundred dollars on V-coins with no mention of tooling by the dealer. Another tooled one sold at Bertolami auction E 109 Lot 717. The auction firm initially did not mention anything about tooling, but when I notified them of the tooling, they added it to the lot description. For comparison, here's my well-circulated but unaltered example. I'd tell you it looks better in hand, but I'd be lying. In fact, here are a hundred examples that demonstrate what Faustina's hair and Juno's clothes are supposed to look like. Faustina I, AD 138-140. Roman orichalcum sestertius, 25.48 g, 32.1 mm, 1 h. Rome, AD 150 - 161. Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: IVNO S C, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter. Refs: RIC 1143; BMCRE 1531-35; Cohen 210; Strack 1276; RCV 4629. 6 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AETHER Posted January 24, 2023 · Member Share Posted January 24, 2023 😞 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Atherton Posted January 24, 2023 · Member Share Posted January 24, 2023 (edited) A Vespasian denarius that underwent a hair transplant. Different coins, same die. Before and after Rogaine. Edited January 24, 2023 by David Atherton 8 1 2 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coinmaster Posted January 26, 2023 · Member Author Share Posted January 26, 2023 On 1/24/2023 at 2:05 AM, Ocatarinetabellatchitchix said: Read this thread, more than 300 examples there. Many thanks, I found this comment by Andreas Reich useful: 'You just have to look at a lot of genuine coins to develop an eye for it. That's pretty much the same answer you'd get if you asked how to spot fakes. Usually with tooling the wear pattern is not correct. That means that the high points are not (or don't appear) as worn as they should be. What's usually tooled are the laurel wreath, where individual leaves are no longer distinguishable, the hair and folds in the garment. The result is often a great contrast of amazingly preserved detail (which has been tooled in) and an otherwise pretty worn coin. These details are the first that are worn down. Plus the tooled parts just look unnatural. It's not always easy to spot and takes a while. If you suspect tooling, just compare with other (untooled) examples on Coinarchives. Usually after tooling the tooled parts (or the whole coin) are repatinated, because tooling is basically scratching the coin and scratches are easily visible. So that's another thing to look for.' 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maridvnvm Posted January 26, 2023 · Member Share Posted January 26, 2023 There is a gallery of Tooled coins that can be found here:- https://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/thumbnails.php?album=23 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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