A replica

Replica

A replica is a copy closely resembling the original concerning its shape and appearance. An inverted replica complements the original by filling its gaps. It can be a copy used for historical purposes, such as being placed in a museum. Sometimes the original never existed. For example, Difference...

 is a copy closely resembling the original concerning its shape and appearance. An inverted replica

Microtechnology

Microtechnology is technology with features near one micrometre .In the 1960s, scientists learned that by arraying large numbers of microscopic transistors on a single chip, microelectronic circuits could be built that dramatically improved performance, functionality, and reliability, all while...

 complements the original by filling its gaps. It can be a copy used for historical purposes, such as being placed in a museum

Museum

A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...

. Sometimes the original never existed. For example, Difference Engine

Difference engine

A difference engine is an automatic, mechanical calculator designed to tabulate polynomial functions. Both logarithmic and trigonometric functions can be approximated by polynomials, so a difference engine can compute many useful sets of numbers.-History:...

 No. 2, designed by Charles Babbage

Charles Babbage

Charles Babbage, FRS was an English mathematician, philosopher, inventor and mechanical engineer who originated the concept of a programmable computer...

 in the 19th century, was reconstructed from original drawings studied by Allan Bromley

Allan Bromley (historian)

Allan George Bromley was an Australian historian of computing.Allan Bromley was an associate professor at the University of Sydney...

 in the 1980s and is now on display at the Science Museum in London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

, England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

. A second example is Stephenson's Rocket

Stephenson's Rocket

Stephenson's Rocket was an early steam locomotive of 0-2-2 wheel arrangement, built in Newcastle Upon Tyne at the Forth Street Works of Robert Stephenson and Company in 1829.- Design innovations :...

 where a replica was built in 1979, following the original design fairly closely, but with some adaptations.

One definition of "replica" has emerged that defines one as a copy of an original object, that can only be made by the original company (or corporate descendant) of the firm that made the original object; any other sort of copy of an original object would be called a "reproduction" instead.

However, replicas have often been used illegally for forgery

Forgery

Forgery is the process of making, adapting, or imitating objects, statistics, or documents with the intent to deceive. Copies, studio replicas, and reproductions are not considered forgeries, though they may later become forgeries through knowing and willful misrepresentations. Forging money or...

, counterfeit

Counterfeit

To counterfeit means to illegally imitate something. Counterfeit products are often produced with the intent to take advantage of the superior value of the imitated product...

s, fake

Fake

Fake means not real.Fake may also refer to:In music:* Fake , a Swedish synthpop band active in the 1980s*Fake?, a Japanese rock band* Fake , 2010 song by Ai featuring Namie Amuro...

s especially of money and coins, but also commercial merchandise such as designer label

Designer label

The term designer label refers to clothing and other personal accessory items sold under an often prestigious marque which is commonly named after a designer. The term is most often only applied to luxury items...

 clothing, luxury bags and accessories, and luxury watches. In arts or historic cars, the term "replica" is used for a non-original recreation, sometimes hiding its real identity.

Because of gun ownership restrictions

Gun control

Gun control is any law, policy, practice, or proposal designed to restrict or limit the possession, production, importation, shipment, sale, and/or use of guns or other firearms by private citizens...

 in some locales, gun collectors often create non-functional legal replicas of illegal firearms. Such replicas are also preferred to real firearms when used as a prop

Theatrical property

A theatrical property, commonly referred to as a prop, is an object used on stage by actors to further the plot or story line of a theatrical production. Smaller props are referred to as "hand props". Larger props may also be set decoration, such as a chair or table. The difference between a set...

 in a stage performance, generally for safety reasons.

A prop replica

Prop replica

A prop replica is a collectible recreation of a movie or television prop that is intended to accurately re-create the item as it appeared in the original media...

is an authentic-looking duplicate of a prop from a movie or television show.