For the sixth time in two years, we purchased a counterfeit coin through an online vendor, this time through the portal Proxibid, which hosted an auction house selling what was billed as “250-350 A.D. Tetradrachm” lot.

The coin was similar to the silver one at left, only it was made of base metal. I do not have permission to show the specific coin, but suffice to say, as soon as I held it, I knew it was a counterfeit. It felt as light as an aluminum alloy, or tin, and the minting of it had seams as if hot metal was poured into a mold and then cooled.

Ancient coiners minting Tetradrachms used iron dies that often left traces of rust. There was none on this coin, which was smooth and dull gray.

To participate in the Proxibid auction, I had to agree to terms of service, which stated for this particular session: “All information is believed to be accurate, but the auction company shall not be responsible for the correct description, authenticity, genuineness of or defect in any lot, and makes no warranty in connection therewith.”

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Note: Several of our Proxibid auctioneers are mentioned in this Coin Update piece, including Weaver Signature Coin and Currency, Key Date Coins, Crawford Family Auction, West Coast Auction and Silver Trades.