The purpose of this page is to list all known fakes and copies of Severus Alexander coinage.  There is a difference between what I call fakes and copies.  Fakes are coins that never existed.  There are NO known ancient versions of these coins.

With a copy there is a real ancient version of the coin that does exist.  The copies to be concerned with are those made in modern times.  Do not confuse modern copies with an ancient copies (one made in ancient times).  Ancient copies are still ancient coins.  For more information on ancient copies, see my page on them.   Only modern copies are listed here as many ancient copies can be just as collectible or even more collectible than what they copied.  

To understand more about fakes and copies and how they are made, please  see also Bits of History Page on Modern Fakes  and also Doug Smith's page on modern fakes.  Factors like weight, design, material, appearance, and overall look going into figuring out if a coin is a modern fake or copy.   The best advice I can give about learning if coins are fake or copies is to spend as much time as possible examining both.   If you want to avoid buying fakes or copies, buy from a well known coin dealer who guaranties all his coins.  When it doubt consultant an expert.   Bring the coin to a coin show with ancient dealers at it and ask their opinion.   If it is a coin that you paid a larger amount of money for then I'd recommend submitting it to David Sear for authentication.   Please do not become paranoid and assume every coin you get is fake.  Most dealers do a great job sorting through the coins and weed out any problem coins.  Don't stop enjoying collecting ancient coins because of the copies and fakes on the market.  If you buy from trusted sources, you will probably never see a copy or fake unless you want to find one.

Want to try to identify a copy or copies of a Severus Alexander coin?  Please try on my Possible Modern Copies page.

Have an example of a copy or fake I don't have of Severus Alexander, please let me know.  You may save someone else from making a costly mistake!

Known Fakes

Some informatin from BMC Vol. VI, pp. 31-32 & RSC Vol. III.

Fake Denarius#1

Weight 4.6 grams.  Struck, plated, artificially toned and aged.  The reverse appears to be that of Caracalla RIC #266.

Fake Denarius#2

Weight 3.3 grams.  Struck on .999 silver.

Fake Denarius#3

Weight 3.2 grams.  Struck and plated.

Modern Copies

The modern copies below represent both commercial copies sold as souvenirs and those sold falsely as ancient coins.  Some of the coins are cast copies while others are struck copies.  The blurry nature of some of the coins is a result of poorly plating the coins.  Keep in the back of your mind as you look at each coin, would you buy this coin and secondly what gives it away as a copy. 

Copies of Aureii

Plated copy of Cohen 575, RIC 181.

OBV:  Head r. laureate bust draped, IMPCMAVRSEVALEXANDAVG.  REV:  Virtus stg r, holding spear reversed in r. hand and resting l. on shield.  2.8 grams.

Struck copy of Cohen 240, RIC 31.

OBV:  Head r. laureate bust draped, IMPCMAVRSEVALEXANDAVG.  REV:  Salus seated l., feeding snake coiled around altar.  6.34 grams.  22 carats.

Struck copy of Cohen 160, RIC 245.

OBV:  Head r. laureate bust draped, IMPALEXANDERPIVSVG.  REV:  Mars waking right, holding spear and shield.  6.7 grams.  .9999 Gold.  Being sold as Slavei copy on auction sites.

Copies of Denarii

Copies of RSC 576, 508, 497b, 453.

Copies of RSC 391, 161, looks like variation of 556, 84.

Copies of RSC 52, 9, 92.

Note small "Copy" or other letters stamped on Reverse bottom.  They can be easily concealed.  Weights run from fairly close to very light.  Any of these obverse and reverses could be combined to create a different coin.

The above five  struck  copies are of RSC 434a, 161a, 161a, 142,  and 161d and are being actively sold on Internet auction sites like Ebay.  They are pretty convincing copies and don't have any stamps to indicate they are copies.  3.6, 3.4, 3.4, 3.36, 3.3 grams so they weigh more than most real examples.   The legends are poorly done in same cases and the coins ring strange when dropped, but the coins fool new collectors.

Another copy I found on Ebay that was at least described as a copy.  This is a copy of RSC 543, RIC 254, BMC 896, a very common coin.  3.0 grams.

This is a copy of RSC 289, RIC 55, BMC 373-6.  Cast, plated, and aged.  2.7 grams.

Copies of Sestertii

Cast copy of BMC 704, Cohen 569, RIC 618.

OBV:   Head laur., with slight drapery over l. shoulder,  IMP SEV ALEXANDER AVG    REV:  VICTORIA AVGVSTI SC, Victory standing l., holding wreath and palm.  Light weight.  Only 11 grams while the real coin is over 15 grams.  Also note cast "bubbles".

Copy of Cohen 106, RIC 563.

OBV:  Head laur., with slight drapery over l. shoulder, IMP SEV ALEXANDER AVG   REV:  IVSTITIA AVGVSTI SC.  Justitia seated l., holding patera and sceptre. 17.8 grams.