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 Replies: 13 / Views: 1,467 |
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Valued Member
United States
234 Posts |
I purchased this coin about 7 years ago and have always wondered why someone would stamp the "AU" into Neros neck.I believe this coin to be authentic but the AU seems to be done in modern times.Anyone ever see this type of thing before?   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
Looks modern to me plus AU represents Gold which would be odd.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1411 Posts |
 An odd counterstamp, but A.U. could be someones initials. |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
I also have my doubts about the coin. The AU looks modern so it's most likely someone initials.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
870 Posts |
The AU counter stamp is most certainly modern as any legend earlier than 5th century is likely to have some form of serif in the lettering. The coin itself is somewhat suspicious too.
It is very curious as to how it came to be.
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Valued Member
 United States
234 Posts |
When I purchased the coin I believed it to be authentic.Usually if I have a question about a coin I will run my finger over the coin to feel for any sharp ridges.Checking this coin I now feel a ridge across the top of the temple roof not sure if this means anything but I thought ancient coins should not have sharp ridges even if it was uncirculated.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
842 Posts |
My first thought when I saw this coin is that it is a modern cast copy, and AU is the initials of the manufacturer. I can not say for certain, that is just an opinion. I could be totally wrong!
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Still has SOME numismatic value, OK to buy if the price was acceptably low.
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Moderator
United States
16679 Posts |
I am by no means knowledgeable in ancients but the reverse lettering looks blocky and modern. Am I correct?
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Valued Member
United States
234 Posts |
The lettering does seem thicker than I have seen on other nero coins.The info I got with the coin says ric306 If this coin was a cast copy seems that the lettering would look like it was from a original coin the cast was made from.Still believe the AU was stamped at a later time
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Moderator
Australia
16868 Posts |
I have two observations:
- The countermark is modern. The letter "U" did not exist in ancient times.
- Whatever treatment it received, to make parts of the coin turn green, happened after the countermark was applied because there's green stuff inside the countermark.
If I saw it for sale, I would assume the AU was a replica-makers mark indicating the coin was not genuine.
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
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
Good observation Sap. I didn't even think about that.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
870 Posts |
funny how we sometimes overlook the obvious LOL.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Brilliant deduction on the patina in the AU--perhaps that puts the blocky legends in context too?
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Replies: 13 / Views: 1,467 |
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Posted 01/19/2013 11:49 am
