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 Replies: 15 / Views: 7,623 |
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New Member
Portugal
22 Posts |
hi, I found this coin on sale but I have never seen a gold coin with black spots is it oxidation or something else?   |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
It might be just the pictures, but I don't believe it's genuine.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Looks like "MaBs'" right leg is trying to go AWOL...
I agree with Ron.
Edited by Kamnaskires
07/18/2018 8:05 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Might be black wax. Give it an acetone soak.
Looks OK to me,
but I know a lot of care is taken to make very deceiving copies of ancient gold coins. The effort is well worth it with a decent profit, if and when they are eventually sold.
If you have any doubts about authenticity, have it XRF tested, looking for trace elements, not gold. Also may need an independently provable provenance, if you have any doubt.
The ancients could only refine gold to about 95% pure, mostly silver left with the purified gold, but they had no way to remove other trace elements, such as platinum and other noble precious metals. Look for these in the XRF analysis.
Modern copies of ancient gold coins are often made with modern melted down gold coins, where their alloy is accurately controlled. Copper is normally the alloying metal with modern gold coins.
Edited by sel_69l
07/19/2018 12:46 am
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Valued Member
Canada
266 Posts |
Fake.. 100%
Edited by arnoldoe
07/19/2018 03:35 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
The obverse is barely "passable"
But the reverse has a Mars that looks like a bow legged septuagenarian refugee from a trailer park
I don't think so !
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Moderator
United States
34424 Posts |
Is there a genuine coin with a "MABS" error in the rev inscription or is that diagnostic for this fake?
"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 States
3443 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
34424 Posts |
@FR:  "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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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
I have to agree with FR's remarks re bow legged.
Doesn't look right.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
616 Posts |
Do gold coins get encrusted like that?
I know silver and expect encrustation due to the metal's reaction to other elements. But I thought gold doesn't react with much and so looks good pulled out of the ground.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1554 Posts |
Edited by Kushanshah
07/19/2018 11:25 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
635 Posts |
Gold does not oxidize, so the dark material is some type of soil or external encrustation. Personally I would place the coin in an ultrasonic bath with detergent to see if it the dark material could be removed. I suppose there is also a chance it could have been artificially applied, if the coin isn't genuine (I'm not knowledgeable enough on these coins to offer an opinion on its authenticity).
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
7955 Posts |
Yikes (on the price paid)! As it's ebay, at least the item can be returned for a refund. I noticed this seller has only sold two ancients in the recent sales history, both gold. One has "guaranteed authentic" in the listing title and in the body of the listing. But not this one. I've never bought a gold coin on ebay and doubt I ever will, though I have sold at least one (with clear provenance from an auction house that guarantees authenticity). Edited by tdziemia
07/20/2018 10:32 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1120 Posts |
I was watching this coin and had my suspensions, not nearly close as I want to be for identifying fakes, I keep away if I have any doubts. If I think something is genuine, but expensive, I employ the help of my friends here. Yeah it went for a bit over $800.
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New Member
 Portugal
22 Posts |
the coin is fake, I was almost sure of it, but the black stuff had me curious, thanks for all the opinions and for the "refugee from a trailer park mars"  Edited by DanielGu
07/24/2018 4:59 pm
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Replies: 15 / Views: 7,623 |
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Posted 07/18/2018 8:02 pm
