Urban Art Association

1.  Post the close-up photos you were sent — including of the QR code, the BNG identification number, and Diana's face — and let's have a look.



2.  What does the eBay seller, dimet57, have to say about appearing to have sold two of these framed tenners in the space of 23 days (on 3 April as well as 26 April 2022, UK time), using identical photos for both listings?






3.  What is immediately clear from the eBay and Catawiki listings you posted is that the accompanying photos feature neither the same framed tenner, nor the same Lazarides letter.


eBay*







Catawiki*







4.  Presumably, Bottleneck Gallery in Brooklyn, the logical first port of call, will have had some comments about this. What did the gallery say when you made contact?



5.  See also the Banksy Di-Tenner Real/Fake Comparison thread*, especially from page 5 onwards.

Thank you for posting the photos you received from the eBay seller, dimet57.



In case you decide to follow up again with Bottleneck Gallery, check whether the same BNG identification number (BNG101528) may possibly have been used twice — for two different framed Di‑Faced Tenners, with two different QR codes.

And if the answer is "No", ask the staff for their thoughts on which of the items below look either authentic or fake:



BNG holographic stickers and Lazarides letter from eBay*








BNG holographic stickers and Lazarides letter from Catawiki*









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Regarding the eBay tenner itself, there follows a cropped area (focusing on Diana's head) of the photo you just provided.

Unfortunately, the resolution isn't high enough to confirm whether that tenner is authentic:






For future reference, below is an in-focus, high‑res photo of Diana's head from a genuine Di‑Faced Tenner. The photo was taken in natural light and zooms in ever‑closer on the left eye (her right).

Note in particular the individual CMYK dots (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) that are visible from the offset lithography printing process.

These dots will not appear as clearly on counterfeit tenners produced by a digital printer:

Thanks guys. Yeah the BNG gallery said they couldn't provide details on who/when this serial was purchased, but they did say the photo on catawiki wasn't theirs as the sticker was at a stupid angle.

You have good reason at least to be wary.


Of potential concern is something I just noticed with the eBay-listing photos (item number 403612144862*, for which you were the winning bidder on 26 April, UK time).

These show a framed tenner and Lazarides letter that are different to the ones featured in the post-auction follow-up photos you received from the eBay seller.



Listing photo for eBay item number 403612144862 (plus cropped close-up)








Two follow-up photos sent by the eBay seller (2nd photo rotated and cropped)







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Also worth considering is the feedback dimet57 has received as an eBay seller.

Their feedback shows 13 previous sales, all in the last six months, and all for postcards with sale prices ranging from £1.00 to £1.80*.

Now, that isn't damning per se, but it would be consistent with the type of framework typically put in place in the lead up to an exit scam.

Legit and authentic ones are still out there, but you’ve got to keep doing what your doing, due diligence is imperative for these. (As with any work that lacks official provenance). In regards to the Laz store, you pay the premium for a guaranteed legit one.

Only just seen this post about the tenners for sale. I guess they all sold? Please let me know if still available. Thanks.

Hi All, have 1 of these left now. Thanks for all the interest. Any questions please just PM me here cheers

Laz’s website says all of the tenners have sold out following the recent sale. Something tells me a stash will be found in a few months, perhaps a vault sale, at double price.

Two Banksy Difaced Tenners for sale

They came from Steve Lazarides during the time I worked for Lazarides Gallery.

They don't come with a COA (the price reflects this I think) but I will provide proof of my employment at Lazarides and a letter documenting the provenance.

I also have plenty of references who can also confirm that these are the real deal.

London based - happy for these to be compared to those on a COA if anyone wants to do an in-person deal.

Happy to also send hi-res images that show the CMYK dots to any interested parties.

Can also ship no problem.

£1000 each.

I recently bought a tenner with a Laz COA through a reputable gallery (it's in Brighton). Here's a pic. However, anyone have any experience with the COAs? I was wondering if they are hand-signed or just pre-printed. The signature on mine appears to have been printed.

Thanks for the reply. I guess the main thing is the tenner looks right. I've seen enough fakes to know. Signature on mine does appear printed (unless it was written so finely that it's not marked the paper). Anyone else have what looks like a printed signature on a Laz Emporium COA?

Do people believe that they are coming from the original edition printed at one time, or is it more likely they had been printed in new batches over the years or even just printed as and when needed in basically an unlimited edition?
If you believe it's just one edition, how many do you think were printed? And how many have already been sold?

I think just one massive print run, many, many thousands. As for how many are now being sold with Laz provenance, whether from BNG or from Laz Gallery, my guess would be in the several thousands. As they are not numbered we will never know.

"Banksy Di-faced Tenner - Steve Lazarides COA- Framed- Original Lithograph." -
www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=banksy+tenner