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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,255 |
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New Member
United States
3 Posts |
I have this coin I inherited...but have no idea about what it is. I would love to know if any of you can tell me anything about it. (tried searching online but didn't get anywhere...since I don't read 'ancient'...) Thank you in advance for your help.   *** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. *** |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2480 Posts |
 Lysimachos, I think (quick look). I'll look for a more complete attribution later tonight, if someone else hasn't provided more detail. Edited by ThisIsFun
10/11/2013 4:26 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2480 Posts |
Check the diameter and weight. Not sure what metal yours is-- should be silver (I think...) and yours is mighty dark and has deposits often seen on bronze and nonprecious metals. Could just be age/environment though. Meanwhile, if you want to do some research, start with this listing of various Lysimachos coins: http://wildwinds.com/coins/greece/t...achos/t.html |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
to the community The legend does appear to read Lysimachos and also appears to be the size of a tetradrachm. But as TIF said it doesn't look silver and it should be. The weight should be right around 17 grams. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4973 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
549 Posts |
It is a cast fake of a tetradrachm of Lysimachos. It is close to worthless.
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New Member
 United States
3 Posts |
ThisIsFun - Thank you for your input!
The weight seems to be little off than what echizento mentioned...
it is about 12g...or at least, that is what my kitchen scale told me...
The diameter is...about 1 1/4 inches or so...
So, am not sure if its way off, then does it mean its fake?
Also, I looked at the pics on the link you mentioned...saw many that
looked a lot like what I have...except for the fact that doesn't appear
to be made of same material...
Any more insight will be appreciated.
Thank you!
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Sadly I think augustus1 is right.
It is a cast copy of a Lysimachos tetradrachm. The originals of these were struck in very nearly pure silver. I have seen black looking ancient silver coins before they were cleaned, but this one will not improve to a silver colour.
When looking at the obverse, there is a clipped off casting sprue to be seen below the neck truncation of Lysimachos. The roughness of the surface around the horn of Ammon (near the ear), and in the centre of the coin on the reverse is suggestive of a cast tourist copy.
Silver tetradrachms of Lysimachos should weigh around 16.8 grams. If this piece is made of a bronze alloy the weight would be around 13 grams, if no compensation in thickness is made for the less dense bronze.
The first thing that struck me with this piece is that is much too round looking for an ancient coin, and the edge much too even. It is common, but not exclusively so, for ancient coins to have tiny radial edge splits; that is not the case here.
Edited by sel_69l
10/11/2013 6:01 pm
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New Member
United States
3 Posts |
echizento - Thank you for your reply!
As I mentioned above, the kitchen scale told me its about 12g...
So I am not sure what that means...is it possibly fake?
Either way, this has been fun to google around and see all
these cool looking ancient coins and ended up very helpful site
like this one!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3444 Posts |
A fake but a nice fake never the less ! If I found it at the flea market I would spend a few dollars on it.
I say a few because I have actually found ancient silver coins at the local flea market. Twenty dollars for a denarius of S Alexander
and a 'Greek' drachm ! Too good to pass up.
You should keep it on your desk or in pocket as a plaything.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
946 Posts |
 I agree with Warren. The "desert patina" did look odd, regardless of knowing "ancient" or not. Edited by Masis
10/11/2013 8:47 pm
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,255 |
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Posted 10/11/2013 4:32 pm
