Julian II Copies

What follows are four pieces: one authentic official Julian II AE-1 bronze coin issued c. 360-363 AD, plus three copies spanning the ages.

Julian II official ancient bronze coin (29mm, 7.5g), Nicomedia, Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), c. 360-363 AD, Sear 4072, RIC VIII Nicomedia 121, LRBC 2319. Obverse: Bust of Julian facing right. Reverse: Bull, a symbol of paganism, two stars (Gemini or Taurus), "SECVRITAS REIPVB" or "Security of the state."

Julian II bronze ancient imitative (24mm, 8.2g). Most likely this was an ancient imitative issued by a tribal people such as the Gauls or the Franks, or it could have been an acient counterfeit issued within the Roman Empire. The eyes are overlarge, and the beard, mouth, diadem, bull, and inscriptions are rendered coarsely. The piece is in the correct weight range, but it's smaller and thicker than official Julian IIs. It's not clear what mint this imitative copies.

Julian II bronze old replica (28mm, 9.0g). This electrotype replica was issued in 1893 by Metallwaren-Fabrik Wilhelm Mayer of Stuttgart, Germany, a metal works company that along with coin replicas also produced medals, plaques, pins, and similar works. There's an M-within-a-circle countermark in the obverse left field. It copies a coin from Antioch, Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), RIC VIII Antioch 216, LRBC 2640.

Julian II bronze modern forgery (26mm, 8.4g). This is a "Bulgarian School" forgery, said to be made by the Lipanoff Studio of Bulgaria. It's a deceptive forgery, just a bit small, with convincing surfaces, edges, and patina. The styling is off only slightly, with Julian's face being too flat and his nose too shallow and the bull's head not facing heavenward. It was part of a small group of inexpensive coins that were all false. It copies a coin from Thessalonica, Greece, RIC Thessalonica 225, LRBC 1696. More on the Lipanoff Studio.

Julian II bronze Lipanoff forgery -- reverse only. Here's another "Bulgarian School" forgery made by the Lipanoff Studio of Bulgaria. This is the only piece on this page I haven't examined in person. If you have such a copy, please let me know.

Constantinian Bronzes

Other Constantine SOLIs

Constantine VLPP Imitatives

Julian II Copies

Other glomworthy coins:

First Coins

Athenian Owls

Alexander the Great Coins

House of Constantine

Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles

Draped Bust Coins

Medusa Coins

Thracian Tetradrachms

Other coin sites:
Coin Collecting: Consumer Protection Guide
Glomming: Coin Connoisseurship
Bogos: Counterfeit Coins
Pre-coins

Note: All of the coins illustrated on these pages that are in my possession are stored off site.

	What follows are four pieces: one authentic official Julian II AE-1 bronze coin issued c. 360-363 AD, plus three copies spanning the ages.


	Julian II official ancient bronze coin (29mm, 7.5g), Nicomedia, Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), c. 360-363 AD, Sear 4072, RIC VIII Nicomedia 121, LRBC 2319. Obverse: Bust of Julian facing right. Reverse: Bull, a symbol of paganism, two stars (Gemini or Taurus), "SECVRITAS REIPVB" or "Security of the state."


	Julian II bronze ancient imitative (24mm, 8.2g). Most likely this was an ancient imitative issued by a tribal people such as the Gauls or the Franks, or it could have been an acient counterfeit issued within the Roman Empire. The eyes are overlarge, and the beard, mouth, diadem, bull, and inscriptions are rendered coarsely. The piece is in the correct weight range, but it's smaller and thicker than official Julian IIs. It's not clear what mint this imitative copies.


	Julian II bronze old replica (28mm, 9.0g). This electrotype replica was issued in 1893 by Metallwaren-Fabrik Wilhelm Mayer of Stuttgart, Germany, a metal works company that along with coin replicas also produced medals, plaques, pins, and similar works. There's an M-within-a-circle countermark in the obverse left field. It copies a coin from Antioch, Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), RIC VIII Antioch 216, LRBC 2640.


	Julian II bronze modern forgery (26mm, 8.4g). This is a "Bulgarian School" forgery, said to be made by the Lipanoff Studio of Bulgaria. It's a deceptive forgery, just a bit small, with convincing surfaces, edges, and patina. The styling is off only slightly, with Julian's face being too flat and his nose too shallow and the bull's head not facing heavenward. It was part of a small group of inexpensive coins that were all false. It copies a coin from Thessalonica, Greece, RIC Thessalonica 225, LRBC 1696. More on the Lipanoff Studio.


	Julian II bronze Lipanoff forgery -- reverse only. Here's another "Bulgarian School" forgery made by the Lipanoff Studio of Bulgaria. This is the only piece on this page I haven't examined in person. If you have such a copy, please let me know.