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 Replies: 49 / Views: 4,903 |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1569 Posts |
Yes I can elaborate.
Firstly, not enough info... seller, price, etc..
Secondly, I presume you don't have a huge collection of ancient coins so posting a goldie is suspicious to me on a variety of levels.
thirdly, there is a die match for this coin, all is needed is a bit of searching away from the common, boring sites.
Lastly, I have failed to buy any genuine Gold of the period Roman coins for the past 6 years and this speaks volumes.
If you want a gold Roman coin then buy one from a recommended metal detectorist that has one registered and fully recorded that has been dug up in the presence of others.
You will never soar like an eagle if you hang around with turkeys.....
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
I tend to agree with MetDet on buying ancient gold. If I could afford to buy ancient gold I would only buy from a well know and established auction house or dealer. With that being said they have made mistakes and have sold fakes, A very recent auction pulled a large number of coins off the block prior to the sale when they leaned that where fakes. IMO buying ancient Roman or Greek gold coins is very risky and should be avoided unless as a buyer you are expert enough to feel confident that the coin is real.
As to David Sears website, that is his official site. You should feel confident that if you send a coin to him you will get in back with a certification if it's genuine that will be accepted by all.
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Valued Member
 United States
51 Posts |
I see. Thank you a lot guys for your help. I really appreciate your insights on this matter. Would welcome any new opinions on this one. Meanwhile I founds Dave's email will try to give him a shut out.
Edited by bajkonyr
03/01/2015 7:27 pm
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Valued Member
United States
51 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
I don't think you are going to get an answer here. This is a very rare coin and there is not enough information to say how much it would go for in the market place today. We don't know when these coins were sold. If it came up for auction and there were more than one bidder then it could go really high.
If the coin has any provenance, that would add to the value. The condition when seen in hand, may be different from the photos. Is the coin legal? Was the find reported to the relevant authority?
You need to find an expert in the first place and have it authenticated. I wouldn't part with a penny until that was done (personally speaking).
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Valued Member
United States
51 Posts |
@pishpash
Thank you. What if the coin has not been registered in the country it was found in?
As I understand with this type of coin is like with an expensive piece of art/drawing which need a certificate with its history. Am I correct?
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Pillar of the Community
1121 Posts |
We ALL hope to be the one to find the original "Mona Lisa" at our local "Garage Sale", me as much as most, but we never do, because it isn't there - It is in the Louvre in Paris. It is the same with (most) gold coins, I am afraid. If some reputable collector 'dug up' a $3,500 - $10,000 coin he would have had it checked out for himself, as you would and as I would. If he has no Certificate, (to me), the reason is because it doesn't warrant one and 'erring' on the side of caution here would be most prudent. (Caveat Emptor)  Edited by Topcat7
03/05/2015 4:10 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
Different countries have different rules. I don't know where this one was found. In some countries it is illegal to take them out of the country.
I can only speak for the UK. If the coin was found here, an honest metal detector would report the find to "PAS" Portable antiquities scheme. There is would be recorded, where it was found and when. And there would be a reference number so you could check back and get the details in the future.
If the coin was found in a country where the government would have confiscated the coin, or if it has been smuggled out of the country in order to sell it, and if knowing this you still bought it, you would be complicit in the crime.
If the seller is reluctant to have the coin authenticated, that is a big bright red flag.
If the coin was "found" in one of the countries famous for fakes, another red flag.
If you think that you can get this for a knock down price - huge massive red flag with spangles on.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
I can only support all of the cautious opinions that have been expressed.
The distillation I get out of this discussion is that the coin should be sent to David Sear, before any sale is considered.It would be in the seller's interest to have the coin authenticated.
Price to be negotiated after authentication, if that proves to be so.
If that turns out to be the case the seller may feel free to offer it at an auction of the highest international reputation.
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Valued Member
United States
51 Posts |
@sel_69l
Thank you for your reply. I got really sad with all the remarks on the legality of taking the coin out of the country without the proper documentation. It looks like it's a very huge deal.
But I also think if the coin can be authenticated by David, I should be ok.
The country where the coin is coming from is really dangerous to show to authorities nowadays. For that sum one can get robbed easily or even worse.
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Would you be inclined to say what country it is coming from? If it's coming from Eastern Europe, there is a very high chance that it's not real. As far as I know most if not all Middle Eastern countries it is illegal to ship coins or artifacts out of those countries.
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Valued Member
United States
356 Posts |
First, Sear is a Roman coin expert, not website designer. He is completely legitimate and honest. Not infallible, but as close as they come. I had several of my top coins authenticated. So no worries there. Second, and this may seem controversial and many of you will disagree. I would never buy a coin in excess of $500 from a private seller unless it had been authenticated. If you have a valuable coin why would you not drop a $100 or less and have it authenticated? Lazy, Indifferent, or perhaps it's a fake? There are options other than Sear but he is rather inexpensive and I think for $200 I had coins valued at over 15k authenticated. When I buy a used car I pay to have the car looked at by a mechanic of my choice, if seller balks I walk. However many people are looking for deals, and steals even. Nine times out of ten they are too good to be true. So with the odds against you why play? Because gambles exist and they usually lose.... In closing, I have only been a collector since September of 2014, yet some great people from this site have aided me and helped immensely. I did not just ask their advice, I took it. Too often we get inquiries about suspicious coins and due to greed our wisest members are ignored. Luckily we don't lose out. In the beginning I was on ebay buying, dropped $4800 on fake coins. Luckily I dragged those villains at ebay to court and won my monies back. Now I only buy from major auction houses, that I can sue, if they throw a fake one my way. I implement my business motto here in the Coin World. I don't do business with people who I can't sue if they cheat me. Remember that when buying! |
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
I have only two ancient gold coins of any real significant value:
A stater of philip 11 of Macedon, Pella Mint.
An aureus of Vespasian.
Both came from Spinks in London; the aureus in 1977, the stater in 1980. I still have the invoices for both, along with the polaroid photos.
I feel reasonably sure that the documentation should prove authenticity.
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Valued Member
United States
51 Posts |
@ sel_69l
What if it turns out real. What do you think the value is?
Thanks
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Replies: 49 / Views: 4,903 |
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Posted 03/01/2015 7:09 pm
