Slavey Copies of Ancient Greek & Roman Coins

Copies of Ancient Greek and Roman coins made by the infamous Bulgarian craftsman (forger) Slavey Petrov. They are hand stuck in silver as they were in of ancient times. The two examples illustrated are more recent strikes engraved with source SL-COPY and finess 950 on the rim. The older replica's were unmarked or marked in Bulgarin script.

SPECIFICATIONS Denomination Drachm Alloy Silver.950 Type Struck Diameter 18 mm Thickness 3.5 mm Weight Legal 4.30 gms Weight 4.51 gms Shape Round Edge Marked-Copy Die Axis O° Mint Slavey
	SNG Copenhagen 43

Obverse : Head of Athena facing right wearing a crested helmet ornamented with three olive leaves and floral scroll.
Reverse :Owl of Athens (Athena noctua) standing right, head facing forward, below olive-twig and crescent to left. Greek inscription AOE (alpha-theta-epsilon for Athens) to right. All in incuse square.

Note intials SA next to feet below tail feathers on reverse.

The famous silver owls of Athens was issued in large quantities in the 5th century (449-413) BCE using silver from the mines at Laurion.
An original drachm coin sells for about $300. The larger tetradrachm for over $500.
See coin in Fitzwilliam Museum collection.

SPECIFICATIONS Denomination Denarius Alloy Silver.950 Type Struck Diameter 19. mm Thickness 2.3 mm Weight Legal 4. gms Weight 3.31 gms Shape Round Edge Marked-Copy Die Axis O° Mint Slavey
	RSC 15, Syd. 1301

Obverse : BRVT IMP   L.PLAET.CEST, Bare head of Brutus facing right.
Reverse : Cap of Liberty worn by slaves on the day of their manumission, between two daggers with legend EID.MAR referring to Caesar's assassination on 15 March 44 BC.

The Ides of March denarius, struck by Brutus in 43/2 BC, it is the most famous of Roman Republican coins, being mentioned in an ancient author Dio Cassius.
An original denarius coin sells for over $100,000 since only about 60 coins are known.
See coin in Fitzwilliam Museum collection.

Considered as the best replicas, they have become so collectible that it is rumored that original low valued ancient coins have been marketed on ebay as Slavey copies. See also Slavey Catalog and Interview

Slavey in his workshop examining some of his copies.

The replicas were scanned at 600 dpi and displayed at 300 dpi. They were purchased on ebay in 2003 February from a US dealer who said that he grew up in the same town and was a personal friend of Slavey from a long time.