Objekt 9760
Master Forgeries
Description
Artistic deceit
The growth of the collector market and coinage expertise fostered the opportunity of creating almost perfect counterfeits. Famous forgers had expert knowledge and kept company with highly renowned collectors.
Object description
1. Ensemble of counterfeit medieval denarii from southern Italy produced by the Roman master forger Tardani, and medieval vessel, around 1900 and 12th c.
Silver, struck and ceramic
Inv. 2011.387.40.-184., 2004.76.
2. Frankish Empire. Milan denarius of Emperor Lothar I (814–855) and corresponding forgery by Tardani, as well as forgery of a lead re-strike of denarii of Louis the Pious (814–840) and Lothar I (814–855) by Privy Councillor Becker (1772–1830), 822/40 and 19th c.
Silver and lead, struck
Inv. 1918.1694., 2011.287.8., 2008.91.
Which Piece is Fake?
[left]
Genuine
Mühlhausen in Thuringia. «Horseman bracteate» of King Philipp (1198 – 1208), around 1200
Inv. 1918.4149.
[right]
Fake
Counterfeit of twelfth-century Eisenach «horseman bracteate» by Nikolaus Seeländer (1683–1744), 18th c.
Inv. 2011.387.241.