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 Replies: 11 / Views: 2,931 |
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New Member
Canada
6 Posts |
Hey everyone, I am pretty new to the fourms, and I have a question. My mother found a Alexander the Great coin in a field when she was younger, and she recently gave it to me.
I've had trouble correctly find information on it, and I was wondering if you guys could help.
Thanks in advance,
Bfath
(Note: I will be uploading pictures tommorow, so wait until then.)
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5417 Posts |
Yeah pictures would help. Are you sure it's alexander the great? Many people and countries immitated the type or issued coinage in his name, example the celts and Thrace, respectively. Pictures would help along with a diameter and weight along with whether the coin is magnetic or not.
-zx
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New Member
 Canada
6 Posts |
Edited by Bfath
09/04/2014 10:19 am
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
Hi we could do with better pictures. Is there any chance of taking the photo from above. Also a shot of the edge would be interesting. Is the coin sillver? It is difficult to tell from the photos. The obverse looks a little odd but it might be the angle of the photo. If it turns out to be a genuine coin it could be interesting a possible lifetime issue which would affect the price
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New Member
Canada
6 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
Well we can rule out it being a tetradrachm because it is too light, it should be around 17g. Most of the didrachms are around 8 something g.
There were fourees around at the time, these were silver plated with a bronze core. I am not sure that this is a genuine ancient. The style of the obverse is lacking somewhat. However, I do not consider myself an expert by any means. Stick around for a more informed opinion than mine, I hope I am wrong, I often am :)
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New Member
Canada
6 Posts |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Try using the upload image provided here, it's easy to use. From what I can tell from your pictures this is supposed to be an AR (silver) tetradrachm of Alexander III. At 10 grams it's very light for a tetradrachm and too heavy for it to be a drachm. Your coin does not appear to be silver it's a base metal (copper, bronze). Tetradrachms and drachms of Alexander were silver. Also from one of you pictures I see what appears to be a raised line alonfg the edge which would indicate the coin being cast. IMO your coin is a fake most likely a tourist copy.
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New Member
Canada
6 Posts |
What you're saying makes sense, but one thing to consider is that I just learned my scale is broken. So if you discounted all the weight stuff, (My coin likely weights a bit more) would you still think it is a fake?
Thanks in advance,
Bfath
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3444 Posts |
I am unsure.
Too many fuzzy details (facts and figures as well as pics)
You say your mother found it in a field.
People often do find things like this. But not in North America !
The picture looks to me like it 'might' be a genuine silver drachm. Perhaps scorched in a fire ?
Accuracy is important. "Around" an inch just won't do (dollar store sells mm scales) and any coin shop can give you an accurate weight.
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Valued Member
United States
69 Posts |
The overall style and the crescent moon shaped mark on the reverse are the same as an early Alexander tetradrachm minted in Amphipolis. But the weight is way too light. And they did not make drachms at Amphipolis at this time that I'm aware of. It is very corroded. So unless a real tetradrachm can be so corroded that it can lose 7 grams, which I've never seen before, then it is a fake.
But even if real it has little to no value because of its condition.
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Replies: 11 / Views: 2,931 |
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Posted 09/04/2014 10:18 am
