Aged and offered at auction auctions for sale as antique coins, the replicas turn

from souvenirs into counterfeit coins.

The first of the fake Apollonia coins included in the present study (Fig.1) has
the following description:
Avers: AV KA T AI APIAANTNINOC ; head of Antoninus Pius, turned
right.
Revers: AONIHTEN
EN ONT ; faade of tetrastyle portico temple; in the middle,
between the columns Apollo statue on a pedestal; at the top and at the
corners of the peduncle - acroteria; 29 mm; 10.21 g; ; pr. coll.

Fig.1 Fig.1

Counterfeits offered on auctions Replica sold with certificate

in Western Europe. in Bulgaria.

Here, we note that the coin denomination and the reverse die iconography is
interpretation of the replica maker.
For Antoninus Pius, the Apollonia mint issued only III denomination coins,
while the counterfeit has the par value of V denomination.
On the reverse dies of the authentic coins struck for Antoninus Pius is shown
the faade of a tetrastyle portico temple without a statue between the columns.
The replica producer has added the statue between the columns and the
non-specific acroteria (figures of Eros) on the penducle.
The aged replica, which at first appeared to have an authentic look, with its
attractive iconography and metric parameters, has fooled the experts of the
auction house where it was proposed.