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 Replies: 16 / Views: 1,664 |
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New Member
United States
15 Posts |
I picked up this greek coin at the flea market today for $10 along with some other world coins. However I can't identify or authenticate it on my own. Can anybody tell me what it is and how much it's worth? Thanks.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
It looks like an Alexander the great coin. Size and weight?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
564 Posts |
Alexander the Great tetradrachm from Macedonia 336-326.
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New Member
 United States
15 Posts |
The diameter is about 26 mm and not sure about the weight but it feels pretty heavy (about the weight of 2 quarters and a nickel.)
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
Well that sounds about right for a Tetradrachm (It should be about 26-28mm and around 17g)
Your one you see that the figure of Zues seated has his legs next to each other, this is meant to indicate it is a lifetime issue, the later ones his legs are crossed below the knee.
You also have a Corinthian helm mark on the left hand side, this gives further information - it may mean its minted at Messembria.
This should be a couple of hundred at least... if you got this for $10 then either you got a bargain or it is a counterfeit. I see no obvious signs of skulduggery so maybe you got lucky.
Edited by DavidUK
07/23/2017 5:47 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Hmmm. The size of a tet, but sure looks bronze or base metal, doesn't it? If so, it's likely an imitation - but whether modern or ancient I don't know. The type is sometimes faked, so I'd be cautious. Here's a cast fake of the basic type, and also in the wrong metal...perhaps not an exact match but of the same ilk:  |
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New Member
United States
15 Posts |
It has pretty high relief and looks a bit silvery in some spots in certain light. It looks pretty real and feels heavy enough to be real. So I hope I got lucky. Thanks for your input.
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Moderator
 United States
34419 Posts |
@enaz, interesting pick-up. I wonder if you could also post a couple pics of the edge? Thx.
"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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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
Silver can turn black with tarnish, I thought I could see some specks showing through but I wasn't going to advise you to polish it up to see what's underneath as you could damage it.
Not really sure what to suggest for you to make further progress... an accurate weight might be the key information.
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New Member
United States
15 Posts |
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New Member
United States
15 Posts |
There are some side views of the coin. Tell me what you think. Sorry for bad pictures lol.
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Sorry to say that this is a cast copy. You can see the casting line in the second image from the bottom on the edge.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
What a shame, I thought we had a bargain for once. A definite seem there, now I guess you can break the surface and see if they used silver or not.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Yep, good call, Ron.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Cast copy.
Edge picture shows obvious evidence where the molds were joined circumferentially.
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Moderator
United States
34419 Posts |
Yep sorry @enaz, but I agree that there is a parting line from the casting process used to make this fake. Probably impossible to get your money back from the flea market vendor.  "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: 16 / Views: 1,664 |
Posted 07/23/2017 5:01 pm
