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 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,913 |
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New Member
Egypt
3 Posts |
Hi All, I just picked up these coins from an antique store in Cairo. The coins looked genuine - the old chap sold them as Roman coins. I got all these for about $220. Any help in identifying them, time period, and value would be greatly appreciated. Rob   *** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. *** Moved to the Ancient coin section. |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
 to the community Could be just the pictures, but none of these coins appear to be genuine. The first coin on the left is supposed to be a First Meris, this type was only struck in silver. That coin doesn't look like silver. The second coin is supposed to be an Alexander III also struck in silver again it doesn't appear to be. Sorry to say but none of these are legit. I doubt if you will be able to get your money back, you may want to try though. Good luck. |
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New Member
 Egypt
3 Posts |
Thanks for the quick reply - its quite unfortunate really. Will try and see if I can return tomorrow but doubt it. Amazing how they manage to make these coins appear ancient and authentic. Should have done the research.
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New Member
Egypt
3 Posts |
Just wondering - any thought on the first left in the 2nd photo? Its quite thick and heavy.
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Similar to the second coin in the first group. This is what a real one should look like.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3446 Posts |
Egypt has been famous (infamous!) for manufacturing "antiquities" for nearly 200 years !
Egyptology became quite vogue after the Rosetta Stone was deciphered and tourists began flocking to see things 'Biblical'.
It is a cottage industry in places like Cairo.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
567 Posts |
Sorry for your loss here friend. But we have all made mistakes like this, whether it be buying fake coins, or overpaying for them we've all done it at some point. But we learn not to do it again in the future. Good luck to you in your future numismatic ventures.
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Valued Member
United States
356 Posts |
Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. I am an admitted ignoramus and novice, but damned if I trust a coin dealer in Cairo, not even Sulla from Indy! Seriously, as we know even CNG makes mistakes, and recently they even mislabeled a Heraclius coin, which I see they have not changed in spite of David Sear telling them the correct label. So, if the experts mess up, we all need to be cautious. This was a $200 mistake, but it could have been worse. Better luck next time.... Dr Jones....
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Pillar of the Community
3772 Posts |
Sorry for your loss, but as the others already told you those coins are clearly fakes.
Hope this does not distract you from collecting genuine ancient coins.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
Here are some real ones for comparison... Note made of silver.   Edited by Ancientnoob
10/28/2014 9:31 pm
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
I want that First Meris so bad. One day I'll get one of my own.
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Pillar of the Community
1121 Posts |
Don't be discouraged. I have been caught, too, and I probably will again, but hopefully not nearly as often. Take these guys advice. I am. It is good Insurance. 1. Buy from a reputable seller (in the early days - no exceptions). 2. Only buy where the coin is guaranteed authentic by a money back guarantee. 3. Ask questions - here and elsewhere 4. If buying on ebay expect trouble and ALWAYS pay with Paypal. Keep collecting, learn, and enjoy. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger. |
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Moderator
Australia
16872 Posts |
An important issue to note here: it is illegal to sell genuine ancient coins, or any other artefacts more than 100 years old, to tourists in Egypt. It is likewise illegal to attempt to export such antiquities from Egypt. I do not know, with all the turmoil going on in Egypt in recent years, how strictly these laws are enforced these days. But my advice would be that it would be safe to assume that anyone in Cairo openly selling "Roman coins" is lying.
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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Replies: 12 / Views: 1,913 |
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Posted 10/28/2014 4:13 pm
