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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,831 |
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New Member
United States
41 Posts |
First, I bought this in one of those scammish) 100 uncleaned coins. I have about 10 good ones from careful cleaning, but this one is intriguing. So, I've cleaned it, but I don't want to clean it anymore, as I don't want to damage anything that might get me an ID. The obverse is rather shot. The reverse shows a bear? or some large animal. Picture makes it look rather copper-ish, but, yes, it is electrum. I have weighed it, and gathered fragments from the obverse. They both test for silver and gold. Ive been everywhere from Lydia all the way to Byzantium. Help! Thanks very much!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
If you have weighed it the size and weight would be helpful.
Photo's of both sides too.
First impression was it doesn't look like electrum to me, because electrum isn't very reactive and this looks corroded... but if it tests for silver and gold then I must be wrong...
I look forwards to someone shedding light on the mystery...
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New Member
 United States
41 Posts |
It's not correded in the typical sense, but it does have chemical damage on the obverse mostly, some on reverse. It was basically a sphere of dirt when I got it, and after (on and off) MONTHS of cleaning it, I used harsher chemicals...
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Pillar of the Community
Belgium
1194 Posts |
What are the sizes ? diameter , weight and thickness ? Early electrum coins have a particular form , so more photos if possible . albert
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New Member
United States
41 Posts |
Oh the size... Well as I said, it was a ball of dust. And as I got frusterated over about 5 months, I took just about every harsh cleaner you can think of (short of h2SO4), and oddly I think ethanol and or acetone -- the latter of which applied only to obverse, made it shrink. I know, it sounds odd, but it did. At that point I didn't know it was electrum, so I didn't know what I was messing with!.
I will try to post weight and mm soon.
In terms of the bear motif on the back... any guesses?
I thought it was a lion at first, but it really looks like a bear to me.
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New Member
United States
41 Posts |
Not only that, but I cleaned it once or twice with copper coins. I believe their dirt may have infused, at least superficially, with the surface of this coin.
Oh boy, I wish I knew it was not just copper when I started!
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
It has me stumped. Looks like an Ewok to me.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
695 Posts |
Not my particular area of study but my best guess would be taken from this Wildwinds link. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/gree...GCop_098.jpg The forelegs a 'leaping ram' are similar and an 'A' (for the Antioch mint?) is visible.Does the obverse have any clues? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
That link didn't work for me on either of two browsers. If I parsed the link correctly, here is the description for the coin referenced: Antioch, Syria. Time of Augustus. AE 20mm. Laureate head of Zeus right / ANTIOXEWN MHTROPOLEWS, Ram leaping right, looking back; star above; "A" monogram below. BMC 68. SNGCop 98.  |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
34430 Posts |
Sorta looks like a three quarter view of a lion.
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,831 |
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Posted 04/12/2016 10:15 am
