"The early eighteenth century saw an exceptionally active international trade in ancient coins and antiquities and the formation of a number of significant collections assembled by aristocratic amateurs, scholarly gentlemen and cunning dealers throughout Europe. The centre of the antiquities trade was Rome, teeming with dealers who purchased the many coins, gems and other objects found daily in excavations in the city or in the fields of the Roman campagna. In turn, the dealers sold to the local Roman aristocracy, to learned collectors and to the many visitors to the Eternal City on the Grand Tour. There were also forgers in Rome, skilful craftsmen who worked with less than scrupulous dealers to sell their copies of ancient coins as genuine to unsuspecting collectors." Origin: Europe Circa: 17 th Century AD to 19 th Century AD Dimensions: 1" (2.5cm) wide Collection: Numismatics Style: Venetian Coin Forger's Die Medium: Brass

Antique Coins