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 Replies: 29 / Views: 2,523 |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
I am still looking to precure my first ancient coins, and still looking to find an Alexander the great Drachm with a condition and price tag I like. Well in scouring ebay I ran across these coins from a seller with only one feedback and from Bulgaria. They have 2 days to run on auction and have yet to have a bidder so are still at £1. Clearly they are small silver coins, I am not sure what I am looking at and not sure if the lot is both coins or just one, not sure if they are genuine, how old they are or what they are worth. So if you have any information maybe I will take a stab at them if I am likely to be able to pick them up cheap since they seem quite attractive for little coins.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1316 Posts |
DavidUK, Cool looking coins....  , do you know the size and weight of these coins.I like them very much...  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
 United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
None of that info is on the ebay listing, and with a seller that has nearly no feedback I thought I should ask questions here. Thanks for the links I will take a look |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
I would stay away from these. If ther're for sale from an unknown/un-tried seller in Bulgaria, chances are they are FAKE. There is some reason other collectors of this type of coin are staying away. I wouldn't take the chance especially if the price goes up. For 1 GBP maybe you can take the chance. But my money is on they are fakes.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
I agree with JW I would bet they are exactly what you don't want.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4973 Posts |
i wouldn't press my luck with these at all....  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
After comparing with the links AncientNoob supplied I saw that most of the real ones were off-center etc, so remarkable that he had two completely centered and in good condition. I will give them a miss, thought running it past you guys would just make up my mind. I will trawl ebay some more... I find it so incredibly hard to find anything I want to buy which are also good value too. I see a online dealer I have used before has some hadrian denarius for £120 each, these I know will be real but I want to spend less than £100 for something of equal or better condition. Also I looked at quite a few Alexander drachms...none have really jumped out as being oustanding value for money...a couple of tetra-drachms have almost tempted me but they are more than I intended to spend. I guess it pays to be patient, my last coins I purchased took me a month to find and I was really happy with them... |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1316 Posts |
I think that you made a wise decision, I will never say if its real or not, because I'm a noob, be patient and you find the right coin at the right price.....glad you asked these guys....  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
 I wouldn't have enough confidence in the seller. I prefer to buy Greek coins from established dealers for peace of mind. Even then, I check each coin against online fake databases--the ForgeryNetwork is another. |
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Pillar of the Community
3352 Posts |
Rats ... Yah, it's too bad that there is so much scandalish-caution surrounding these cool old coins, eh? ... man, imagine if they're both real and you're turning your back on two fantastic looking coins!! (that would suck) ... ... however, sadly there seems to be a few too many fakes of this sorta coin to make it a wise deal, unless you're buying them from a reliable Dude and maybe even a certification document stating that the coins are legit!! (otherwise, it is probably too much of a gamble) ... => but again, it's too bad, because this coin variety is super cool and the good ol' bull image is absolutely awesome!!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
I agree, and if they have been from someone with 20,000 feedback 99.9% positive I would have taken a chance on them but the red flags go up when you see someone with less than 10 feedback selling something too good to be true. As for Certificates of Authenticity I am not sure they are worth the paper they are printed on. Anyone can print anything in this day and age and if you can be bothered to forge a coin I am sure a piece of paper takes no stretch of the imagination. I am now watching this one (from the same seller as the first drachm I liked) the metal shows as a little pourus but he has good feedback and also I know his physical premises. I expect like the last coin of its type it will go out of my price range in the last few minutes of sale. (I want this coin for less than £90 what are my chances?)   Edited by DavidUK
08/24/2012 08:43 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
Quote:
something too good to be true That's a good mantra by which to live. I have always told my boys this saying and I try to live by it. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
I never liked the idea of shopping with people who have 10000 feedbacks. The real deals are to be had from a guy like me who might want to thin the herd if I were to do so today I would have zero feed back, yet my coins are nice,legit, and well loved. Most of the people I have bought from are not dealers but rather collectors, retirees and people trying to trade up towards something else. You are protected by ebay and paypal, keep your records and if it falls through you can get your money back. I rarely by from bulk sellers you dont get as good a deal in general and I never buy from the top sites FORVM /HJB / Vcoins. Coins I want are priced super high. My same 200 dollar coin from these guys would be 450-650. My 300 dollar coin is 750-950. They dont negotiate and at least for me their garentee and renouned following with an army of on staff experts mean little when my meager salary dictate my buying habit. I know others might disagree but.... This is my experience and I am super happy with my admittedly less then perfect affordable coins that from others where as if it were from these guys would still be unaffordable. For example my Tyre half shekel of Tyre FORVM $275 Ancientnoob hunting $100. Case and point Edited by Ancientnoob
08/24/2012 09:12 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Regarding the Alexander III drachm above, I personally would not pay more than say... £ 75. ebay bidding often goes higher than comparable coins on dealer sites, such as vcoins. I would be happy owning that coin, but for a better deal, since it looks harshly scrubbed and a bit porous--perhaps due to horn silver?  I would hold out for a better deal--and check out what dealers have too.  Compare to this coin for £ 79. The style of Herakles isn't as nice, but it has less porosity.  Here's another example on vcoins for £ 94  Based on personal tastes, there is a lot of subjectivity in ancients. I really like Herakles on this coin for £ 106  Edited by DVCollector
08/24/2012 1:24 pm
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Valued Member
Canada
472 Posts |
Hmmmm, drachms... Got a few of them myself  |
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Replies: 29 / Views: 2,523 |
Posted 08/23/2012 12:48 pm
