Ancient Coin Grading (Post Your Coins)

-AP / MA - with a coin of such contrasting grades. I would agree EF/F corroded overall VF.
-AP Crown - Harshly cleaned. F.

Try this one...

Demetrios Poliorketes, Silver tetradrachm
Obv:â€" Demetrios diademed head right with horns of a bull, the animal sacred to Demetrios' patron deity
Rev:â€" BASILEOS DEMETRIOY, Poseidon standing left, right foot on rock, trident in left (apparently inspired by the Lateran Poseidon, a statue by Lysippos, court sculptor of Alexander), monogram left
Minted in Pella, c. 289 - fall 288 B.C.
Reference:â€" Newell p. 97, 91 and pl. VIII, 12, SNG Cop 1179 var.
17.0192g, 29.3mm, 45o



Martin

And try this one:-

Mysia, Parion, Silver hemidrachm
Obv:â€" Facing Gorgoneion, surrounded by snakes.
Rev:â€" PA / RI, bull standing left, looking back right
Minted in Parion, 350 - 300 B.C.
Reference:â€" BMC Mysia p. 95, 14
2.427g, 13.8mm

Anoob, knowing that this coin type looks pretty much like this at the time it was struck. I would grade it at VF+.

Good call Ski, all the devices and legends are complete on this specimen, toned to a black color, the coin is rare and even rarer as an identifiable piece. Alass with no collector base to drive the market a few dollars can go along away.

FR- The info:


This piece toned black in color retains its original condition. From my understanding of the obverse figure it might be struck a bit high obscuring Lakshmi's nimbate. (?)

Here's the description representing my own photos and dimensions.

Chahamanas of Sakambhari
The Rajput Dynasties in India
AR Stater 17 mm x 4.11 g
c. 1110-1125 AD
Obverse: Four Armed Lakshmi seated facing.
Reverse: Two Lines of Brahmi script-Sri Aja/Ya Deva
ref: Mitichner NIS #456-457

Here is my problem with grading an ancient coin accurately...

What happens when you have a coin, like the Rajput coin...how do you know what grade it is when there is no mint state example to compare it against...a coin where most people (even ancient collectors themselves) didn't realize that the coin even has text, and it is not merely geometric design? Unlike the mint state Hephthalite, blank(?) reverse bronze I posted earlier, the Rajput coin is not mint state it has been circulated. An educated person could make the assumption that yes the coin is very circulated, and a grade can only be determined by strike, centering and metal condition, but how does the coin grade when compared to others of its type. This is one of the best ones out there as far as the design being on the flan, with about 15-20% of the legend missing. So I think in my mind I would call it a VF- with a large flan. Toned.

wrt to the silver hemidrachm. I trust it as being real having been through the hands of Hubert Lanz at Numismatik Lanz and then through Joe Sermarini at Forvm Ancient Coins before making it's way to my collection. This was their grading:-

EF, mint luster with golden toning

There are many ancient coins in this sort of condition. The expression "too nice to be real" if often used with EF ancients. This isn't true. You do have to have done you research and buy from people that you trust though.

Martin

I am much more in my comfort area here (assuming you are not fooling me with a superb copy !)

Everything I look for ...... Centered, Minor wear on highest points, Small die breakage (?) at one o'clock is of little consequence to me, artistic style excellent for the time period.

Whats not to like really.
On the FR scale a VF-10 .......

I am unsure from the photo if the surface 'frosty' look is metal or lying on surface
Nine o'clock obv. edge seems to show some smooth metal at the rim.

If lying on surface it gets kicked into low end XF

This is where I differ with some on grading. If a condition is less than permanent or has not actually affected the underlying metal I am willing to give bonus points.
When another member listed a nice Titus As yesterday I was looking at the underlying blue/green patina and trying to imagine what will or could be rather than what is shown today.