Wasted $300 on a replica Roman coin at a market in Athens

Back in 2019 I bought this 'ancient' denarius from a street vendor near the Acropolis, thought I got a steal until a museum curator in Thessaloniki laughed and showed me the mold lines. Has anyone else gotten burned by fake artifacts on vacation, or do you have a trick for spotting reproductions before you fork over cash?

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seanjackson28d ago

Bought a fake "Minoan" vase in Crete for 40 euros, the seller even threw in a certificate of authenticity. The trick that saved me later is a cheap 10x jeweler's loupe, if the edges look too clean or the surface feels waxy, it's a cast copy.