Brockage Fourrées

A brockage is created when a coin sticks in the die and a new planchet is accidentally struck using a die on one side and the previously struck coin on the other, resulting in an incuse image. Most brockages are obverse brockages, because the obverse die was generally affixed to the workbench, while the reverse die was held with tongs for striking. It seems unlikely that a coin stuck in the obverse die would ever escape attention, but remarkably, some reverse brockages do exist -- though none, to my knowledge, of fourrées.

Brockage fourrées are quite uncommon. The fact that they occur at all is a fascinating indication of the scale on which ancient counterfeiters were operating: such carelessness seems to indicate a mass-production environment.

This page contains images of all the brockage fourrées of which I am presently aware. If you have one and are willing to publish it here, please

Brockage fourrée of Augustus. 2.72g. Source: Aaron Emigh



Brockage fourrée of Augustus. 3.1g. Source: Ed Witherspoon



Brockage fourrée of Tiberius. Source: Marc Melcher



Brockage fourrée of Hadrian. Source: Doug Smith



Brockage fourrée of Septimius Severus. Source: Aaron Emigh



Brockage fourrée of Septimius Severus. Source: Marc Melcher



Brockage fourrée of Severus Alexander. Source: Marc Melcher



Brockage fourrée of Postumus. Source: Marc Melcher
This appears to be a modern forgery. It is commonly asserted that fourrées are not forged in modern times. This is definitely not the case, though modern forgeries are much rarer for fourrées than for official issues (probably due to a generally lower market value and increased complexity of manufacture). This particular example was sold at auction in Gemini IV.



Brockage fourrée(?) of Osca. 2.05g. Source: Marc Melcher

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