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 Replies: 11 / Views: 1,242 |
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New Member
United States
9 Posts |
Hello! Quick backstory: I snagged this coin on ebay for a suspiciously good price. The seller allowed returns, so I figured I'd buy it, then return it if it was ultimately fake. I'm relatively new to collecting ancient coins however, so it's difficult for me to tell if it's a forgery or simply well-worn. I know which conclusion I'm leaning towards, but I'm looking for a second opinion! I uploaded a few pictures, which can be seen below; apologies for their quality, it's hard to take pictures through a magnifying glass! Thanks in advance for all your help! :) Edit: The coin is 15mm in diameter and the seller listed it as weighing 3.52g, if that helps!     Edited by nickirows
03/16/2018 10:12 pm
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
IMO the coin looks genuine with honest wear.
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New Member
 United States
9 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
34397 Posts |
@NR, while we can see a little bit of the edge in your pics, could you please post a few more showing this part of the coin?
"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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New Member
United States
9 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
34397 Posts |
Well, the edge doesn't look obviously cast which is a good thing. The fields are somewhat porous, which can happen to a silver coin over the course of a couple thousand years. I not inclined to disagree with @echizento on his determination, but am honestly not 100% sure either way.
"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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New Member
United States
9 Posts |
Another reason for hope! If it is a forgery, then it seems to be a good one. To be quite honest, the only thing that really rubs me the wrong way is the seller. A new member as of Jan. 2018. Listed about six Republic-era silver coins for 3-day auction at a very cheap starting price ($1.39), followed by around six more. All the feedback is private...
Edit: ... and just now, someone on another foum said it was likely a forgery for all the reasons I mentioned above. What a shame :(
Edited by nickirows
03/16/2018 10:19 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
616 Posts |
Quote:
Edit: ... and just now, someone on CoinTalk said it was likely a forgery for all the reasons I mentioned above. What a shame :( Speaking as a relatively new collector (5 years come May) and from experience, leave ebay. Don't waste your time. All you will do is drive yourself nuts while filling your collection with coins you'll regret. I haven't bought a coin there in a good 3 1/2 or 4 years. Vcoins. Coin shows. Numisbids.com auctions. Start there. You won't regret it. |
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New Member
United States
9 Posts |
Thank you for the advice! I believe I'll be taking it. Well, as soon as I get my refund from ebay, haha. I half-suspected it was a forgery when I bought it, but I figured if it did turn out to be a forgery, I would gain experience from investigating it! Win-win, in a certain light. |
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
There are good and bad points with this coin, the edge of the coin doesn't have a seem that I can see and the thickness is not the same, with thick and thinner areas which indicates a struck coin. The black spots IMO are just dirt that has adhered to the surface which is not a smooth surface. The only thing that concerns me is the softness of the strike on the reverse, this can be from normal wear or and indication of a possible cast coin. You also mentioned that it is a new seller with private feedback, that in and of itself doesn't sway me either way. Now if the coin is coming from Eastern Europe, China, and some areas in the Middle East, that would be a red flag to me. I have to admit I didn't look at any of the fake coin sites and went with my limited knowledge. We have members here that have a better eye than I, hopefully they will be along and confirm either way.
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New Member
United States
9 Posts |
Not Eastern Europe. The profile said based in the UK, though the coin was shipped from Belgium. Here are a few other coins that he's sold. They all look quite similar...   |
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
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Replies: 11 / Views: 1,242 |
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Posted 03/16/2018 5:38 pm
