Julien Auctions - Notice: Bogus item (IMHO)

[lmgill]

Based on my knowledge, of owning an original, made by my friend for the film, I'm pretty sure the Batman over size coin, is one of my pewter replicas, not a "production made", "used", "saw it on a shelf", "was thinking we needed one", "Original reproduction" .... version.

I'm 99% sure, the coin offered, is my pewter replica, not an original. The originals were made of aluminum, and this has all the hallmarks of an unfinished pewter casting. The ones I offer on eBay are at least polished on the hero side.
I sent them a note, but the lot still describes it as "authentic"
I have seen some pretty bad bogus props (ones I made the originals of) with these folks. Including a laughable Dracula Knife, with the blade upside down, and the engraving drawn on with a sharpie! . Which after I pointed out was not real, was re-described as an "Original replica", whatever that means.
I feel anyone who buys from these clowns. deserves what they get.

 

[Tommy]

I'm not familiar enough with the Two-Face coin to know what to look for or to have a sense of how many originals should be out there, but whenever one comes to auction (which lately feels like every catalog), I wonder if it could be someone passing off one of your replicas.

As much as I appreciate high-fidelity replication, I'm becoming a bigger and bigger proponent of those who include difficult-to-reverse tells.
Almost as a rule at this point in my collecting, I'll avoid pursuing props that I know have been replicated with any degree of accuracy.

 

[lmgill]

I'm not familiar enough with the Two-Face coin to know what to look for or to have a sense of how many originals should be out there, but whenever one comes to auction (which lately feels like every catalog), I wonder if it could be someone passing off one of your replicas.

As much as I appreciate high-fidelity replication, I'm becoming a bigger and bigger proponent of those who include difficult-to-reverse tells.
Almost as a rule at this point in my collecting, I'll avoid pursuing props that I know have been replicated with any degree of accuracy. The replica coin is pewter, the real ones are aluminum. Easy to tell the difference, as aluminum is much lighter.

Easy to tell the difference in this case. The real coins were "struck" on an aluminum blank, the replicas are cast pewter, much heavier, and not as shinny

 

[eethan]

Curious, so I have just checked, and for instance, knowing well the Harry Potter letters as I have worked so hard on a replica, their Hero is a fake! damnit! the printed one is correct, but the Hero is close, but everything is slightly wrong, the paper, the handwritten address, the ink, the logo in the back, and even the wax seal.
I have bought from them in the past, doing my own research on what I bought, but this is scary.

I'll contact them about the Harry Potter letter, in the past, they were very communicative when I contacted them, I'll see what they reply to this.

 

[joingaramo17]

I just saw this mask being offered in Julien's Auctions as an original production-made mask purchased directly from Global Effects in the 90s. Just out of curiosity, could this be true? Maybe this is the one used to make the molds for the Icons replicas?

 

[lmgill]

View attachment 1941015
I just saw this mask being offered in Julien's Auctions as an original production-made mask purchased directly from Global Effects in the 90s. Just out of curiosity, could this be true? Maybe this is the one used to make the molds for the Icons replicas?

I'm not sure on that one. I don't remember having a Mask, available, that had the raised "L". But maybe.

 

[lmgill]

So sad that the pewter replica coin sold for $2,925

 

[Tommy]

That appears to be about what the (presumably) original ones go for. lmgill Did they reply at all to your note?

Unfortunately, maybe the consignor was a crewmember as the listing suggests... but an untrustworthy one. I've gotten a growing impression these past few years that several auction houses seem to completely halt their research just as soon as the provenance box can be checked.

 

[lmgill]

No reply, that is why I posted here. I thought perhaps that might have an effect.

My friend John Ramsey (Propart (no longer in bussines)) made the oversize coins for this film, and they were stamped from aluminum.
Remember, this is a "close up" prop, and was made to look as much like a real coin as possible.
He also wanted them light, as is aluminum, compared with most cast metals. (yes, you can cast aluminum, I know, but generally not in the prop making community)
I know, that he also made quite a few, so, while I have no direct knowledge, that someone on the films prop crew, didn't cast some, I see no reason they would need to do so.
I know nothing of the normal sized coin, seen in other parts of the film.

Here is a close up, of the one he gave me. As you can see, there is no surface porosity (pitting). It is about 2.5" in diameter.

Below, is their photo, of what was sold.
This looks like one of my "throw away" coins. I call these "throw-away, because, the mold this coin is in, has a number of other items I need on occasion. Because smaller parts in this mold, cast better with the metal hotter, the larger pieces come out with surface pitting and porosity. Normally I re-melt these other parts, but, I sometimes saved these, and gave them to people. Not that worried, because they are so different (color and weight) from the real ones, that any serious collector could tell the difference.
However, this one is so poor looking, with some odd "bubbles" in the cutouts of the crown and ear, that I'm now wondering if this is a recast of mine.

 

[lmgill]

This looks to be a real, genuine Batman coin.

https://entertainment.ha.com/itm/movie-tv-memorabilia/props/batman-forever-warner-bros-1995-tommy-lee-jones-oversized-two-face-coin/a/7392-89784.s?ic4=GalleryView-ShortDescription-071515