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 Replies: 17 / Views: 2,196 |
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New Member
United Kingdom
7 Posts |
Hi we have just found this ancient coin in our garden in England and we would love to know its origins/age etc - can anyone help us? From our searches we think it may be greek geta ae22 dionysopolis coin? huge thanks - lucy  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
 You found that in your garden? Cool. You'd need a picture of the other side to tell what it is though. |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
to the community Yes we need to see pictures of both sides. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
Just from this pic, it looks like Hercules holding the lionskin, resting on his club. Similar to the Thasos tetradrachm. Maybe a Celtic imitation. I would love to see the other side. I can't make out the script but it could be it wouldn't be unheard of if it said nothing and was made by someone who is illiterate. Great find.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
BTW - It could be silver - and I would go over the site again. There might be treasure to be had.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36903 Posts |
Nice find and welcome to CCF.
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New Member
 United Kingdom
7 Posts |
Wow thanks everyone were so pleased!! Here's a pic of the other side looks like there may have been something there but can't tell what ..... How exiting!!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Well, looks pretty mucky. If you put it in a ramikin and soak it in olive oil and use a tooth brush to brush it every once in a while, it'll quickly clean up.
Whatever it is, its overstruck on an earlier coin - looks like someones copied a green coin and struck it on top of a roman coin.
Personally, it looks like a celtic copy by an illiterate tribe. The legend should be greek and it looks like a classical greek design, but the letters are false and the figure is much cruder than an original greek coin.
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New Member
United Kingdom
7 Posts |
We think it may be silver it's still got a silver sheen - it weighs 9-10 grams. Huge thanks everyone  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
If its silver then be gentle with it! I've never seen one like this before.
A picture of the edge would also be good. Being found underground makes it almost certainly real but we had a member dig up a fake denarius before and its good to be safe.
And if its silver, the diameter would help determine if its a drachm or a tetradrachm - looks like drachm size I think.
I should read the title! Thats drachm sized I'm guessing, but if its an imitation perhaps its a tetradrachm - ancient britons love half arsing things.
Edited by Ben
05/11/2013 1:17 pm
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
I've enhanced the image a bit it may help ID the coin.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
http://thracecoins.reidgold.com/part1.htmlhas some great info on this type of coin. Again I cannot be sure of the variant but there are many. Poke around here on the website, and familiarize your self. It makes for an interesting read. Agaib I belive your coin is a Celtic Imitation. I actually own a real Thasos tetradrachm Just for some point of reference. Thracian Tetradrachm of Thasos AR Tetradrachm 31.8mm x (16.13g) c. BC 148 Obverse: Portrait of Dionysos Reverse: Hercules with Lion Pelt in arm resting on club. M monogram left M monogram right. ref: BMC 73 
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New Member
United Kingdom
7 Posts |
wow guys this is great thank you so much - we have popped it in a ramacin of olive oil and its cleaned up brilliantly - will post another pic in a min. Echizento thanks for enhancing that image it does show a faint outline which is great. I am so exited - even if it is a couterfit. Very exiting stuff! Just reading through the race coins info - will post cleaner pics very shortly. Huge thanks - Lucy
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New Member
United Kingdom
7 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
The Celtic imitations can be lighter than 16g for sure. Some in the 12-14g range. If your scales are a little off, and we can accept that the obverse is flattened from the the progression of time, then I would say its fine. If you can soak the coin in acetone for 5 minutes, then rub with a cotton swab and see what you can do about verifing the weight. The coin could also be debased(mixed with other metals, bronze, zinc,copper ) almost anything. The coin does not have a cast seam so I doubt it's modern. My guess late first century BC. Carried to England during the Celtic migration period (around 50 BC) due to the westward advancement of Julius Caesar's legions.
Congratulations.
I wish I lived in Europe.
Edited by Ancientnoob
05/11/2013 4:54 pm
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New Member
United Kingdom
7 Posts |
wow that is just amazing - we are thrilled! Ancientnoob thank you so much for your time and expertise - we are so so pleased to have found this in our very own garden!! I will keep you posted on our progress |
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Replies: 17 / Views: 2,196 |
Posted 05/11/2013 10:45 am
