Spent $300 on a 'Roman coin' that turned out to be a modern replica from a gift shop

I got way too excited at a flea market and didn't check it with a magnet first. It stuck right to my fridge. Anyone else have a story about a fake artifact they fell for?

3 comments

3 Comments

sarah_brown1mo ago

Honestly, my buddy once paid way too much for what was sold as an old war medal from some online auction. Tbh he was so proud of it for weeks before showing it to his granddad, who just started laughing. Turns out it was a cheap copy you could buy at any army surplus store for like ten bucks. The look on his face was just pure defeat. Ngl, it really taught all of us to be way more careful with that stuff.

betty_barnes28d ago

Yeah, that's the worst kind of letdown. You get that rush from finding something special, and the crash when you realize it's junk is brutal. It's not even about the money, it's about feeling like a fool. I've been there with a pocket watch that was just a broken modern movement stuffed in a rusty case. That sinking feeling sticks with you. Makes you check everything twice now.

paulk421mo ago

That's a rough way to learn the magnet trick. Bought a "vintage" compass once that was just a modern piece glued into an old case. The excitement in the moment really does cloud your judgment. At least your fridge got a new decoration out of the deal.