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 Replies: 16 / Views: 7,377 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1699 Posts |
I've never owned an ancient coin before and I hardly ever see them in hand. Though, I've always been interested in them. This has to be a fake, right? Let me know what you think! Thanks   |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
If its real, and I cannot state it is (no real experience of greek silver), then its debased silver. This is a worrying subject - the modern reproductions look just like this kind of silver. But I think it looks okay.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
That's an struck piece of love a heck of a coin. Kudos!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
Akragas these bring big dollars
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Valued Member
Jordan
137 Posts |
Currency beautiful and come back to civilization Greco
Edited by rjscoins
08/14/2013 6:01 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Looks quite OK in the pictures but that is not quite enough to say that it is genuine. Looks OK in the small flan splits.
BenByfield an Anoob have the right attitude.
Large silver of Akragas is very pricey, and small silver ain't cheap, either. That can attract the attention of the serious fakers, with very deceiving products.
Provenance needs to be established: who previously owned it, and who before that, etc.?
Good to know the weight as well.
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
201 Posts |
Just from the photo it looks good to me too, though I agree with sel_69l that provenance and weight are important to be more certain its authentic. I bought a similar example from vauctions a few years back though my crab is badly offstruck, assuming its real yours is a lot nicer.  SICILY. Akragas. Circa 482-472 BC. AR Didrachm (20mm - 8.39 g). Eagle standing left / Crab. Jenkins, Gela, Group IV); SNG ANS 952 (same obverse die). VF, light porosity |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1699 Posts |
Thanks for all of the opinions. I actually don't have an accurate enough scale. I bought it in a group of coins so I couldn't tell you exactly where it came from.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Dunno...I'm leaning towards caution on this one. Something that bothers me is how the crab lacks sharp definition anywhere.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2480 Posts |
I'm no expert but I see no big red flags on this one. The wear on the crab's shell looks in keeping with the general condition of the coin. What's the weight and size? Here's a similar one on wildwinds albeit in much better condition:  Quote:
Sale: Triton VIII, Lot: 55. Closing Date: Jan
10, 2005. SICILY, Akragas. Circa 482-472 BC. AR
Didrachm (8.42 gm, 12h). Estimate $1500 Sold For
$1200
SICILY, Akragas. Circa 482-472 BC. AR Didrachm
(8.42 gm, 12h). AK-RA, eagle standing left / Crab.
Jenkins, Gela, Group IV; SNG ANS 951 (same obverse
die); SNG Copenhagen 29 var. (eagle right). EF,
just a trace of light porosity. ($1500)
Copyright © CNG 2002 You can see more of them by searching Greek coins by city on wildwinds. Here's that page: http://wildwinds.com/coins/greece/s...ragas/t.html |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1569 Posts |
Going to stick my neck out here and say that isn't silver and is a copy. I am not an expert on coins and to be honest I don't know what that is but I am excellent with metals and I reckon that is some alloy mixture.
You will never soar like an eagle if you hang around with turkeys.....
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
I should explain myself--compare how the flan surface/fields meet to the details on the crab. I looked at several dozen examples, and the definition is fairly crisp. Campare to the OP's coin and how the claws and legs sort of 'melt' softly into the flan. That's what got my attention.
Edited by DVCollector
08/17/2013 7:15 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
I know am familiar with the UK seller mentioned in this thread and he's good, trusted and a pretty expensive, but it depends on what your looking for.
I don't immediately have a problem with the OP coin but, something like this required "in hand" observation to be absolutely sure. I must admit DVCollector's observation is not without merit, although if its a fake its a really good one.
Edited by Ancientnoob
08/18/2013 10:35 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1699 Posts |
I brought this coin to the ANA and showed it around. Most who looked at it were not interested because"there are too many on the market" or "didn't have anyone looking for one". Whether or not this was simple negotiation, I don't know, but these people passed on the coin. Nobody seemed too worried about weighing it, but because the planchet crscks looked authentic, they thought the coin was too. Other than that, I couldn't really get any othet opinions on it from these guys. I finally ended up selling it. I made a nice profit and I'm sure the dealer who bought it will too. |
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Replies: 16 / Views: 7,377 |
Posted 08/14/2013 5:05 pm
