As the new 12-sided £1 coin, said to be the“most secure coin in the world” comes into circulation, our resident Roman and post-medieval numismatist (coin specialist), Julian Bowsher, takes a look at early counterfeit coins.
Ever since their appearance in the 6th century BC, coins have been copied. The Greeks and Romans passed laws against counterfeiting and made it a capital offence. Our excavations in London turn up hundreds of coins every year and there are more Roman counterfeits than for any other period. Usually we’re able to recognise them by their crude manufacture and low weight. One of the Roman measures to thwart the forgery of silver coins was to produce them with serrated edges – making a silver plating over a copper core more difficult. This serrated coin, dating to 81 BC, was unearthed in London and is the only genuine coin in this post...
