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Ancient Greek(?) Coin, Or More Likely, A Fake?

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United States
3 Posts
 Posted 01/24/2012  02:18 am Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add wheresmygoat to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
I found this coin while looking through coins my grandmother gave me long ago. She traveled quite a lot and this is one of the "coins" I noticed while going through the set.

I think it's most likely a reproduction or a fake of some kind, but I'd like to see what you folks think:



Ancient-Greek?-Coin,-Or-More-Likely,-A-Fake?

Ancient-Greek?-Coin,-Or-More-Likely,-A-Fake?
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sel_69l's Avatar
Australia
21788 Posts
 Posted 01/24/2012  04:56 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add sel_69l to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
It's a Ptolemaic tetradrachm, I just can't decide from the pictures if is is a tourist copy or not.

When assessing it for style, it appears to me to be at the the limit of what I consider to be acceptable for style. It is the obverse that I am having most problems with.

What do the edges look like?

If it is a copy, it is the rough surfaces that suggest that it has been cast. Look for some evidence for a casting inlet somewhere around the edge.

Also, look to see if there is a tiny piece of plating missing anywhere on the surfaces or edge, to reveal poorer metal underneath. You may need strong magnification to do this.

It LOOKS to be of good silver, but it needs to be weighed accurately to 1/10 of a gramme.
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United States
3 Posts
 Posted 01/24/2012  09:45 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add wheresmygoat to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
If I am to weigh this, how will I determine if it is legit?

There's a little bump to the bottom left of the neck, but I can't tell if it would be from casting. The edge is fairly smooth overall.

It is roughly twice as thick/heavy as a US quarter, but I'll put it on a scale later today.

I see no signs of plating with the naked eye, but I'll try to find a good magnifying glass.

Thanks so much!
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echizento's Avatar
United States
23731 Posts
 Posted 01/24/2012  12:48 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add echizento to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
to the community.

The style looks right, but the porous surface concerns me a bit and could mean a cast copy. If you can take another closer picture without the quarter and include one of the edge we might be able to tell better.
Edited by echizento
01/24/2012 12:49 pm
New Member
United States
3 Posts
 Posted 01/24/2012  10:34 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add wheresmygoat to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I don't have it with me for pictures, but I did figure out that it weighs 12.9 grams. I'll take some better pics tomorrow.
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sel_69l's Avatar
Australia
21788 Posts
 Posted 01/25/2012  06:47 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add sel_69l to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Cast copies of coins often have a greasy feel about them. Worth checking for this.
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