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 Replies: 12 / Views: 3,417 |
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New Member
United States
7 Posts |
Alright, so when I was younger I amassed a bit of a coin collection, focusing mostly on US coins but I had an interest in ancient coins as well. However, I didn't really know what I was doing in terms of verifying authenticity, so I am now going over some of the better coins I have to try and figure out both their authenticity and identity. First up is one that I am pretty sure is real: a coin from Amisos, Pontus, with an awesome Gorgon head!   Back in the day I got all of these coins off of ebay, which is why I'm so nervous about all of these, but this coin came with a nice description with the location and date ("Time of Mithridates, Late 2nd, Early 1st Century BC"). It also says AE 21, Sear 3709, which I assume is a categorization of some sort. Up next is a coin that I forget the details about and so can only suggest that I think it is Greek:   And now for one of my personal favorites, enough that I remember it was labeled as Indo-Greek but I am not sure if it actually is: my square horse coin!   Anyway, any help verifying or identifying these coins would be greatly appreciated. I can also put up more pictures if anyone needs them; I have a few more old coins that I may put up later, including what I think may be a Byzantine coin. I also apologize for it all being bronze or copper in advance; my budget at the time didn't allow for pristine tetradrachms of Alexander the Great  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4963 Posts |
I can't tell you much, but I do know that the second coin (if authentic, but it looks fine to me) is Roman rather than Greek. I'm a little skeptical of the first one, and I have no clue on the third.
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
 to the community If you can remove the coins from the 2x2's and take better pictures it will help us ID the coins. From what I can see they all appear to be genuine but like I said better pictures will confirm that. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
I agree, it'd help matters to take them out of the 2 x 2's and to then reshoot. Having said that, I think #3 is likely a legit issue of Gondophares of the Indo-Parthian kingdom, c. 42-55 AD. I can make out a horse and rider, left, on the obverse, and what may well be the remnants of a "Gondopharan symbol" on the reverse. For comparison:  Edited by Kamnaskires
06/11/2016 8:49 pm
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New Member
 United States
7 Posts |
Thanks so much!
Alright, I will take them out of the 2x2s and reshoot, I just don't have any new ones to put them in so that's why I was hesitant to do it before. Also, wow, I think number 3 is a match! Those versions are much nicer than mine though!
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Bob I believe your right, it does look like one of his coins.
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Your first coin is from Sinope, and is similar to Sear 3709 with the head f Gorgon and the reverse of Nike advancing right. The AE 21 means the coin is 21mm in size.
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New Member
United States
7 Posts |
First of all, you're all amazing, thanks so much! It's so cool to find out more about these coins because I only knew basics. Also thanks for welcoming me to the forum I took them out of the 2x2s and got a new one as well (I didn't do the Indo-Parthian one because I think the analysis was spot on and it's so worn I don't think more pictures would help!  Here's the Pontic coin:   Here are two of the other I guess Roman coins:   Number two:   And here's the one I mentioned before that I think could be Byzantine or at least in that early medieval era:   Again, thank you all so much! This is honestly so cool! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
The Byzantine appears to be an anonymous follis, Class C, AD 1034 - 1041. Echizento will know for sure. For comparison:  Edited by Kamnaskires
06/11/2016 11:56 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
The middle one may be a bronze antoninianus of Aurelian, but I am certainly no authority on Romans. But it does seem like the upper left letters of the obverse may be "vre" as in IMP AVRELIANVS AVG. (Better pics would help) I'm pretty sure we're dealing with a Fortuna reverse. For comparison:  Edited by Kamnaskires
06/12/2016 12:51 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
On the earlier Roman, perhaps Crispus? The enhanced photo seems to show an "IS" at 10-o'clock, which would be consistent with the obverse legend "IVL CRIS_PVS NOB"...but I'm out of my element. Some of the Roman experts will chime in, I'm sure. I think I read "ESIS" as the mint mark on yours, though it's hard to tell for sure. I believe this would be Siscia.   The example is from: http://coinproject.com/coin_detail.php?coin=1141Edited by Kamnaskires
06/12/2016 12:48 am
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New Member
United States
7 Posts |
I'm pretty sure all those are exactly what you described them to be. Thanks so much!
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
The coin is an Anonymous Class C folles attributed to Michael IV, some of the obverse legend is visible. The reverse IC XC NI KA, is Greek for Jesus Christ Will Conquer. Sear# 1825.
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Replies: 12 / Views: 3,417 |
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Posted 06/11/2016 6:02 pm
