The Things I Forgot About ....... Alexander Tetradrachm !!

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Author	Replies: 12 / Views: 1,383
FVRIVS RVFVS Pillar of the Community United States 3443 Posts	Posted 08/05/2015 11:57 am One of the great joys of getting old is finding and opening the 'right' box in the closet. Almost 40 years ago I fell in 'like' with one of my brothers Alexander tets. So enamored was I that I traded him a rather large pile of 10 Roman coins (Some good ones too !) Well I just got back from vacation and for the life of me I could not remember where I had stashed my SLR on my way out the door ! A wide search was immediately initiated and not only did I eventually find the missing Nikon ........... but I discovered a beautiful box I had socked away over 20 years ago. When I opened it I could not believe what I found ! Treasures ! My Roman glass collection (3 pieces) One gold ring I had made with a Republican Denarius One gold ring I had made with Afghani lapis And an Alexander Tet that I had all but forgotten about ! I know it seems ridiculous but while every so often I remembered that I once had one (usually when seeing one posted here) I had long since forgotten where I had stashed the darn thing. To be completely honest I have long since lost any identifying information on it that he gave me. So speaking like a true 'newb' I ask what can our in house experts can tell me about it ? I must say that 20 plus years stashed in a wooden box seems to have toned it quite nicely ! 25mm 17.19 grams Report this Post to the Staff

echizento Moderator United States 23731 Posts	Posted 08/05/2015 1:03 pm FR I love the way you can turn coming across a box in a closet into an exciting story. What a fantastic coin to have been locked away for all those years. I wish I had a closet that contained a treasure like that. The coin is beautiful, but that rich patina makes it even more beautiful. I see if I can come up with a reference for you if I have some time to check today, but I sure others here will know it off hand. I know you are more a Roman AE collector but I know this coin will hold a special spot in your collection. Report this Post to the Staff
arnoldoe Valued Member Canada 266 Posts	Posted 08/05/2015 1:10 pm Nice, It's this one http://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=214743 KINGS of MACEDON. Philip III Arrhidaios. 323-317 BC. AR Tetradrachm In the name of and types of Alexander III. Amphipolis mint. Struck under Antipater, circa 322-320 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; phrygian cap in left field. Price 112 Report this Post to the Staff
FVRIVS RVFVS Pillar of the Community United States 3443 Posts	Posted 08/05/2015 1:32 pm Awesome ! To think the 'thang' had been (sort of) in my possession for almost 40 years and I never had a clue that it was minted under Philip III ! Makes it even more interesting to me as I did hang onto several drachms of Alexander and I believe 3 small bronzes. I think I like mine better than the CNG one shown ! Nothing like that "old cabinet toning" to give it that venerable look. As I remember it was bright white silver when it was put away. Baked at a low temperature in the closet inside a wooden box for twenty years turns out to have been just the right thing to do. Between 1985-1995 I shed almost all the silver coins I had in favor of copper Asses and orichalcum dupondii. A very small few early purchases I held onto for sentimental reasons. This one I actually regretted trading for after I chose to concentrate on bronze. I gave up some rather decent first century coins for it. But I have now changed my mind ! Edited by FVRIVS RVFVS 08/05/2015 1:38 pm Report this Post to the Staff
pishpash Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 3626 Posts	Posted 08/05/2015 2:08 pm Awesome! Report this Post to the Staff
Kamnaskires Pillar of the Community United States 7066 Posts	Posted 08/05/2015 2:16 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Dutchgulden Pillar of the Community Netherlands 1204 Posts	Posted 08/05/2015 2:20 pm super coin, great find ;-) Report this Post to the Staff
FVRIVS RVFVS Pillar of the Community United States 3443 Posts	Posted 08/05/2015 3:28 pm Just awoke from my mid afternoon nap ! (another pleasure of getting old) Love the Mag Cover !! Who needs to travel to Europe Asia or Africa ! In fact the Wheelabrator recycling plant out in Millbury MA might have a few small things I cant find. That wife of mine and her vacuum cleaner ! Menace to western civilization they are Report this Post to the Staff
bpoc1 Rest in Peace United States 4078 Posts	Posted 08/05/2015 3:59 pm FVRIVS RVFVS, Report this Post to the Staff
oh my florin Pillar of the Community Australia 1006 Posts	Posted 08/05/2015 6:35 pm Nice coin mate the Toning is lovely Report this Post to the Staff
chrsmat71 Pillar of the Community United States 4971 Posts	Posted 08/05/2015 10:00 pm wow, what a beauty FR! a nd what a great story! I remember when I was a kid I had a little pouch of coins I had collected, some world stuff. I've looked for it many times but it was last seen the 80's, maybe i'll dig it up and find denarius or something! BL...that awesome. Report this Post to the Staff
bobbyhelmet Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 2838 Posts	Posted 08/06/2015 04:42 am Far better than anything I've ever found lying around! Great magazine cover Bob :) Report this Post to the Staff
FVRIVS RVFVS Pillar of the Community United States 3443 Posts	Posted 08/06/2015 6:28 pm The major problem I have is that I took the sage advice of a coin dealer friend. Never stash all the good stuff in one place ! Better that a thief find one box and head for the door than they find everything and fill up the whole van ! I have also come to an answer regarding the oh so sweet toning on this coin. I know for sure it was white silver with some darkness in the relief. But the contents of the box reveal (I believe) what happened. The silver coin was inside a felt lined wooden box with small square compartments of different size. In one sat the coin and in another sat 2 gold rings. In the larger compartments were 3 unbroken pieces of Roman glassware and lastly a gold pocket watch. Having always been terrified of breaking the glassware they were carefully wrapped in wads of newsprint (as was the watch). I believe the warm dark setting and the nearby newsprint did the toning. I never would have had the patience to do it intentionally ! The Republican denarius ring too has acquired an 'olde tyme' look to it. Although not as extreme as it had some toning to begin with. Perhaps I should write a thread Raiders of the Lost Box ? Edited by FVRIVS RVFVS 08/06/2015 6:30 pm Report this Post to the Staff
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