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 Replies: 16 / Views: 2,626 |
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New Member
Australia
9 Posts |
Dear Forum members, Could anyone please assist with identifying this gold coin, which I suppose to be Greek. As you can see, it has been converted at some time in the past into a hat pin. I bought it at a charity shop for $1. Many thanks. TonyR   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Well, it references a Ptolemaic issue from ancient Egypt. It may be a modern fake, or it may be an original (silver) issue that has been gold plated or painted.
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New Member
 Australia
9 Posts |
Apologies - my first time - here is a better pic. The size of the coin is about 8mm, so quite small really. Many thanks, TonyR  |
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New Member
Australia
9 Posts |
Thanks very much Bob.
It's definitely gold, and tests at 22k or thereabouts, although the pin is only about 9k.
So probably a Victorian (?) fake do you think?
Regards,
TonyR
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
At that scale, it could be a legit Ptolemaic AV triobol - which were minted in gold with the imagery seen here. Likely fake, but one can hope...
Edited by Kamnaskires
12/04/2016 12:04 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Here's the type...Ptolemy I Soter, 305 - 283 BC, AV triobol:  Edited by Kamnaskires
12/04/2016 12:04 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
A couple more for comparison. If yours is legit, you're poised to make the best return on a dollar investment that I've heard about. I do wish you well!   Edited by Kamnaskires
12/04/2016 12:25 am
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New Member
Australia
9 Posts |
Thanks very much Bob - it's a fine thing that people such as you are so willing to share their expertise.
Regards,
TonyR
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
It could be a gold plated tourist copy.
What is the accurate weight?
I must admit that, for a dollar, I would have bought it myself!
I have the advantage of the assistance of some very professional ancient numismatists to help with verification for me.
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New Member
Australia
9 Posts |
Dear Sel_691,
Thanks for your interest.
I can only weigh it with the pin, so that wouldn't be much help, but while I know nothing about ancient Egyptian coins, I do know my gold, as I prospect and refine as a hobby.
The coin acid tests at about 22k, and the pin at <10k. It would be quite a bit of trouble to fake a single obscure coin in 22k gold, and then roughly attaching it to a low karat gold pin, but there you go......people do strange things.
It may be a fake, it's not a modern one, as it apparently belonged to an old lady, and who wears hat pins nowadays?
It was very dirty when I bought it, and didn't look like anything at all really, but, for a dollar.....hard to go wrong I thought.
Regards,
TonyR
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
My first impression is that the coin is genuine. The stick pin looks crudely made though. My feeling is that someone had a real coin and wanted to show it off, they made the pin and mounted the coin in it.
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New Member
Australia
9 Posts |
Dear echizento,
Thanks for your reply and assistance.
I think you're probably correct - perhaps they gave it to their girlfriend:)
Regards,
TonyR
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Seems as if may be gold at least.
Unfortunately, it looks as it it has been hard soldered into place in at least two positions.
If it acid tests at around 22ct gold (which is just about as high a purity that the ancients could attain),
then
the next test could be XRF.
It it is modern gold, the only alloy element should be copper or silver.
If it is ancient gold, there will be a mixture of other trace elements besides copper and silver. It is the presence of those other trace elements that could well prove that the refining method was an ancient one, and subsequently prove the coin to be genuine.
It would be worthwhile XRF testing the surrounding ring also, but I would expect that to be a 'pure' alloy of gold and copper only.
X-Ray Florescence test next!
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New Member
Australia
9 Posts |
Thanks Sel 691 - I'll probably just give it to my wife for Christmas, as I doubt it would have much value any more as a coin (but perhaps I'm wrong.....). From what I've read, the Greek coiners in those days would have just melted down the alluvial gold without being too concerned about the purity of the metal, which they probably couldn't have measured anyway. Not actually sure how they would have assayed back then - maybe by specific gravity like old Uncle Archimedes taught them.
Cheers
TR
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New Member
Australia
9 Posts |
Dear Forum Members,
Many thanks to everyone for their assistance in identifying this coin.
One last question....can anyone read/understand the lettering on the reverse of the coin? Is it perhaps 'Ptolemy Emperor'?
Many thanks.
TonyR
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
You got it, Tony. Ptolemy King. (The Greek letters for Ptolemy would be at the upper left of the reverse of the Ptolemy I AV triobols, but are apparently cropped off your coin - or your reproduction, as the case may be)
Edited by Kamnaskires
12/04/2016 6:04 pm
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Replies: 16 / Views: 2,626 |
Posted 12/03/2016 11:48 pm
