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 Replies: 17 / Views: 2,994 |
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New Member
United States
6 Posts |
I am pretty sure my grandfather picked this up in his travels, but I have no idea what it is or what language it is in. I am guessing maybe from India? Pen included in pic for size reference. Side 1:  Side 2:  Any help identifying it would be very much appreciated. *** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. *** to the Ancient coin section. |
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Pillar of the Community
Belgium
2895 Posts |
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New Member
 United States
6 Posts |
Could be -- it's definitely Greek to me. *rimshot*  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
731 Posts |
Possibly Parthia (Persia)
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New Member
United States
6 Posts |
Parthia it is, if ebay is to be trusted! Mine looks like it is in much better condition than the one here. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kings-of-...em1c4fab45a3EDIT TO ADD: Coin described as "Kings of Parthia, Vonones II, 51 AD, AR Drachm, Ekbatana Mint". Thanks for helping. :) Edited by Titanium Spork
04/09/2015 5:11 pm
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Moderator
 Australia
16817 Posts |
Hello and welcome.  It is indeed Parthian, but it should perhaps be pointed out that "AR" in that ebay description means "silver". Parthian gold coins are basically unheard of, so what you have is either a cast replica or a genuine silver drachm that someone has plated. Unfortunately, your coin and the one on ebay are much too similar-looking; I suspect that they are both cast fakes from the same source. 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
5155 Posts |
I have never seen a Parthian gold coin. The coin with this design in my mind should be silver. If this coin is indeed gold color in hand I suspect it might have a legit silver coin that was plated over with gold. I would be curious to know the weight of this coin. Member BOBL is our resident Parthian specialist and should be able to help you along more than I can.  Interesting. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Just getting back online between tornado sirens here in the St. Louis area. Good comments all. I concur with everything that's been said. Modern gold casts from Parthian originals are not all that uncommon: do an ebay search on "Parthian cuff links" and you'll see what I mean. But there's no such thing as a genuine, ancient Parthian gold drachm. Bob Edited by Kamnaskires
04/09/2015 7:43 pm
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
My first impression was that it was a recent fake of what is supposed to be a silver drachm that has gold plated.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4964 Posts |
my first thought was we need BobL!
i suspect it to be a fake as well.
keep your head down bob! I'm only about 3 hours east of you, so i'll be keeping an eye on the sky as well.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Quote:
I'm only about 3 hours east of you Where about's, Chris? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4964 Posts |
I'm in olney ill, about 30 min from the indiana state line.
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New Member
United States
6 Posts |
Hope you guys are OK.
I will take it to a coin shop this weekend to see if I can find out more. I don't have the knowledge or equipment to properly weigh or measure it.
I have seen some of those gold drachm put in jewelry, but I doubt this is one of those--that is a more recent phenomenon, isn't it? My grandfather got out of the jewelry business in the 70s, so unless they were making them at that time, there is no reason he would have one. Plus I don't see any obvious signs (scuffs or melted parts or what have you) that this was part of a piece of jewelry.
Whatever the case, I will report back with findings after I take it to a coin shop. The local shop may not know much about Parthian coins, but they should at least be able to give me a few more details like weight/measurements and maybe composition. I'm having fun learning about this stuff and trying to figure it out regardless.
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Valued Member
United States
356 Posts |
Is it common to use real gold to play silver coins? Fake gold coating? What is more common a fake coin, or a real coin coated with fake or real gold?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Quote:
Is it common to use real gold to play silver coins? Fake gold coating? Well, personally I can only speak about the Parthian series. If ever a gold Parthian coin is encountered, it will almost certainly be a modern fake using real gold through and through. Usually they are cast, but sometimes they are struck from modern dies. These fakes are said to often originate in Pakistan. In the early 1980s or thereabouts a supposed hoard of struck gold Parthian coins (AV aurei) of Vonones I (not Vonones II, as we have above) materialized on the market. The entire hoard was eventually condemned as fake in the "Bulletin on Counterfeits" (vol. 19, #2, 1995). Edited by Kamnaskires
04/11/2015 10:09 am
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New Member
United States
1 Posts |
Hi Titanium Spork, do you still have that coin (Parthian, Vonones II shown in your two pictures)? Regards, *** Edited by Staff - Please review the rules that you agreed to when you registered. *** related to buying and selling-echizento |
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Replies: 17 / Views: 2,994 |
Posted 04/09/2015 4:57 pm
