Alexander The Great AR Tetradrachm: Authentic Or Not

You don't need to use polls to get your answers, just post a normal thread.

I agree with sel, they both appear to be fake.

@sel and ron, would you mind providing a little more detail about why you think the first one is fake? I see what appears to be metal flow lines around most of the periphery on the obv, so I'm thinking that this piece at least was struck rather than cast (despite the odd bubbles/granularity behind Hercuyles' ear). I'm a little bothered by the lack of definition in Zeus' head on the rev, but maybe this feature doesn't always fully strike up? Again, I'm just trying to learn here...

With the first example, the head is not 'struck' up, but the torso is.
That head area could be a filled die, but I don't think so.
Filled dies are more common with machine made coins.

I also see what appears to be metal flow lines, but they can be easily reproduced with pressure casting.
There is only one radial crack in the flan. I would love to see inside that crack with a 20X loupe, looking for tensile metal failure, that would have happened with a strike. If there is no stress, it is more than likely to be pressure cast.

The details in part do look a little mushy, but I have seen some very deceiving pressure cast silver copies of both ancients and modern coins.

For those that have a sense of smell, (I don't anymore, unfortunately)*, rubbing the coin between the fingers and then smelling them for an obviously coppery smell would reveal a copper alloy. Ancient Greek silver tended to be reasonably pure, and the coppery smell on your fingers would not be obvious.

*I was exposed to a massive volume trichloroethylene used in cleaning jet engine parts for F18 fighter aircraft. Tric. is poisonous and carcinogenic, but liver cancer has not been detected in me yet.

For me the strike is soft and lacks the detail I would expect to see on the bust.

Both look real to me

Awesome :) Thank you very much.

Regarding the edges - there is no photo of the coin edges. I am willing to purchase it, I don't own it yet

@pratamishus, I think that there was a bit of a split opinion on the first coin, but the fact that it is being sold by Heritage is strong (not perfect) evidence that it is real. I would say that the lack of detail on the rev, especially in Zeus' head makes this a bit less desirable of a coin. However, Alexander Tets are truly iconic and so it would still be a very nice addition to your collection.

Good luck with your bidding and be sure to send us pics when you have your new prize in hand!