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 Replies: 14 / Views: 1,429 |
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Valued Member
United States
422 Posts |
I have wanted to buy a Nero for some time and I came upon this Nero silver Egyptian billion tetradrachm, not much else other than 'Snake year LE' on reverse. I noticed what looked like the silver being wrapped over copper on the reverse, not to mention the copper on the obverse. I emailed the seller and he said that is was copper oxide on the 'outside' of the coin and it wasn't, in his words, 'a light weight' fourree as I suspected it might be. I tried looking up the reverse in Wildwinds and couldn't get a perfect match as well.  Please give me your opinions if you would? Thanks in advance.  |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
To me the copper clearly shows under the silver. Looks like a fouree to me.
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Valued Member
 United States
422 Posts |
As I not totally in the know with the 'Billion' label, a silver coin should be silver through and through or is it just coated with silver? Or does that mean something different all together?
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Billon coins are a mixture of silver and a base metal. If the silver contend is high than the coin might have a more silver appearance. Most billon coins have a low content and just look like the base metal.  As an example the billon argentus of Constantine I were 3-5% silver. Image from Constantine website. Edited by echizento
04/13/2012 2:30 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
I seem to recall that many billon coins were "pickled"--a chemical process where the surface copper is removed, leaving a deceptively silver appearance. Perhaps we're seeing both a pickled surface and the underlying, dominately copper alloy?  |
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Valued Member
United States
422 Posts |
The seller has 100% feedback and seems to be fairly confident in his description that it isn't a fourree. Another question would be what it is worth? Any quesses here? Thanks for the help so far.
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Valued Member
United States
422 Posts |
Just got an email from the seller. The coin weighs 12.2 grams. He didn't send a size. Absolutely says it is not a fourree...guaranteed! Now if I could get a good idea of it's worth I might make a move. Thanks again guys!
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
I'm not convinced, maybe it's just the pictures but I see what looks like pieces of silver missing and base metal showing on the obverse on the neck and reverse by the outstretched arm.
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Valued Member
United States
422 Posts |
That's what I saw too, echizento. He said that you could clean the copper oxide off if you had a mind to. But I also collect fourree's and was actually hoping it was a fourree :). So I really couldn't go wrong by picking it up. If it is a fourree I add it to my fourree collection. If it is a tetradrachm I add it to my Roman collection. I am more concerned about the price at the moment. He wants about $70 for it. Is that a good price or not? Thanks.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
IMHO the price is too high for a coin in this grade. I think you can do better. I paid $30 for this Nero Tet:  |
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Valued Member
United States
422 Posts |
Yeah JW, I thought that might be too high. Glad you weighed in. Thanks.
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
422 Posts |
Thanks echizento. I offered him what I thought was a better price and got no response. As JW said, there is other fish in the sea. I'll keep looking.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1549 Posts |
I do not believe it is a fourree and have seen several Nero tets with blotchy copper patches from what I believe to be poor mixing of the alloy.
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Valued Member
United States
422 Posts |
I'm convinced its not a fourree too dougsmit. But I'm still looking for a Nero at a relatively inexpensive price point. Most of the Nero's I've come across are quite expensive. (except the one JW got...how does he do that?) Seemed like it was worth pursuing. But I'll keep looking. Thanks for the input.
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Replies: 14 / Views: 1,429 |
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Posted 04/13/2012 1:07 pm
