| Author |
 Replies: 37 / Views: 6,472 |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
917 Posts |
I'm not sure what they are so If you all could help me out on that I would appreciate it. Any information would be great. I couldn't resist. Number 1   Number 2   |
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1211 Posts |
Can't help you with any info, but those things are freakin cool. The first one especially.
The owl and the face are just awesome.
Congrats on the new coins.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1045 Posts |
Nice coins!
I don't have time for full attributions at the moment but others with much expertise will fill in the blanks soon enough.
Coin #1) Classic style and very popular Greek owl tetradrachm
Coin #2) Emperor Trajan
Regards,
-Kurt
Edited by Biancasdad
07/11/2012 6:29 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
I don't know Greek coins enough to comment on the first coins attribution, but it is a nice looking coin. However, the second coin is a Trajan Denarius, RIC 118, 103-111 AD. IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P, laureate bust right, draped far shoulder / COS V PP SPQR OPTIMO PRINC, Aequitas standing left with scales & cornucopiae. This is also a nice coin, with plenty of detail remaining. I've always liked the regal poses of Trajan and Hadrian. You can find this coin on wildwinds.com at this link: http://wildwinds.com/coins/ric/traj...C_0118.8.jpgEdited by Bing
07/11/2012 7:15 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
3352 Posts |
Hi Coindog ... congrats on making it to the ancients!!  When I was brand new, I posted a similar photo of my Attic Owl (man, I was so proud!!) ... and then DVC replied with this classic snippet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hnhvWKMqm4&t=0m27s... I was "soooo" mad at him ... I wish you all of the luck in the world!!  |
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
917 Posts |
Awesome thanks Biancasdad and jwharper for the help. What kind of grade/value would these get? And as for you steve6 that is an amazing movie and you could not have shook my confidence any more then you just did. I didn't have any doubts until now. Please tell me these aren't fakes.  |
|
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Straight off, I wouldn't say they are fakes, but a few questions would need to be asked:
What were the exact circumstances in which they were bought?
How much do they weigh?
|
|
Moderator
 Australia
16861 Posts |
The Roman one seems OK; the Athens one somewhat less so, to me. Whether a coin is fake or not can be difficult to tell just from pictures. But in your case, that "die crack" running all the way across is worrying. I can't recall seeing a genuine ancient coin with such a badly damaged die before. Where you got them from is also helpful to know. A coin dealer that specializes in ancients? A "normal" coin dealer who had no idea what they were? ebay? A street market stall in Athens? Your coin has a decreasing probability of being genuine as you read through that list. When asking to identify and verify the authenticity of ancient coins, it always helps to provide some measurements: the size in millimetres and if possible the weight in grams. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
I like the Trajan Denarius. I think it's authentic and looks right to me style wise.
That Athens Owl coin looks fishy to me with the die crack and the way the coin looks.
I have a Trajan AE As coming in the mail soon, if it arrives. It will be 3 weeks here in a couple of days. Starting to wonder as I've already lost two packages of coins since I started collecting.
|
|
Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Congrats on your first ancients. Like the others I can't comment much about the first one, it is one of the most copied coins there is. I'm always suspect when I see one of these. DVC has more knowledge about this coin type, I'm sure he will be along and comment on it soon. The second coin is a very nice example of a Trajan denarius that would be an excellent addition to any collection.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
Coindog: I know that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach when someone suggests that the coin you just spent good money on might be fake. I know. I've been there. I have my fingers crossed that it is authentic. As echizento said, DVC will be along and perhaps have better news for you. I put a lot of stock in what SAP and Sel have to say as well. Generally, you can take what they say to the bank. I'm just holding out hope for you.
The Trajan looks authentic. I would grade it as F+. As far as value, if you stick around here long enough, you'll find I'm a cheap kind of guy. I wouldn't pay over $60. But having looked around for like coins for sale from trusted dealers, the average was $80 to $100.
Edited by Bing
07/11/2012 9:31 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
3352 Posts |
On the bright-side => my coin ended-up being legit!! I was so worried that it was fake, that I sent it to David Sear (the Ancient Coin World's Gandalf) ...   ... man, I wish you all of the luck in the world, too ... NOTE => "next time" you would be very wise to post the coin that you're interested in buying and then ask the gang here what they think and how much they think it's worth ... I admit that at first I was worried that one of these guys would swoop-in and buy the coin out from under me ... but after a while I realized that these dudes have ethics and it would definitely be bad-form to do such a cheap trick!! (plus, none of them have any spare cash to buy coins!!) ... anyway ... again, I wish you good fortune!! |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Steve--right, your coin proved to be ancient, and my comments about style had some merit at least--as it was an imitative type. So I guess my movie quote is still my favorite!  you even got the link! I have looked at some Athens owl tetradrachms, and I personally haven't see many with so much flan space bordering Athena and the owl. Usually, Athena is cut off somewhere and a "full crest" is hard to find. The style and definition of the owl isn't too good either. I have never seen an owl tet with a crack like that. I have my doubts, but that's not conclusive, lol. What does it weigh in grams? |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
917 Posts |
Not sure I'm going to have to buy a scale tomorrow. Sadly the die crack is what attracted me to the coin. Along with the "moody" stance on the Trojan one.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
There is a very good education to be had in the identification of fake Roman denarii.
Have a look at the
TESORILLO website, click on the
"?Es falso mi denario?", then click on the automatic English translation.
This is really an excellent textbook to be read from the screen, with about 40 pages of text and excellent illustrations. The reading of the automatic English translation is heavy going, But I think is well worth the effort.
I have read it all in detail, and am now much the more skilful in the identification of fake denarii. Took me about 10 hours to read carefully, but that is the only price you pay to satisfy the thirst for knowledge and skill.
At the very least, for the purposes of this thread, spend about a half hour looking at the illustrations. You will be glad you did.
The monetary cost of acquiring this knowledge and skill?--- NIL!.
|
|
Rest in Peace
United States
45 Posts |
|
| |
Replies: 37 / Views: 6,472 |
Posted 07/11/2012 6:28 pm
