Is This Counterfeit/Fake Alexander Coin?

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Author	Replies: 13 / Views: 1,352
AlRashid Valued Member Canada 167 Posts	Posted 07/31/2018 7:56 pm Hi Guys I was just browsing ebay and came across this coin. It seems it has cast pits am I right? How come NGC slabbed this? Report this Post to the Staff

echizento Moderator United States 23731 Posts	Posted 07/31/2018 8:25 pm NGC just grades ancient coins, they do not certify them. This one probably didn't get a high grade. Report this Post to the Staff
AlRashid Valued Member Canada 167 Posts	Posted 07/31/2018 8:37 pm Hi echizento my concern on this is authenticity besides low grade I think it is a cast as it has so many round holes on it. Report this Post to the Staff
Kamnaskires Pillar of the Community United States 7066 Posts	Posted 07/31/2018 8:39 pm Kolophon issue. The coin is ex-Numismatik Naumann. I'm sure it's good. Report this Post to the Staff
Kamnaskires Pillar of the Community United States 7066 Posts	Posted 07/31/2018 8:41 pm Bear in mind: pitting sometimes occurred in legit coins too. It's not always a sign of casting. It's often hard to tell whether pitting is legitimate environmental damage or whether indicative of casting. I've struggled with that determination plenty of times. But I do think this coin is kosher. Report this Post to the Staff
Spence Moderator United States 34425 Posts	Posted 07/31/2018 9:05 pm Quote: It's often hard to tell whether pitting is legitimate environmental damage or whether indicative of casting. With that said, I would still probably pass on purchasing this 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 Report this Post to the Staff
AlRashid Valued Member Canada 167 Posts	Posted 07/31/2018 9:13 pm Thanks Guys for reply . My worry was I did buy an alexander drachm from the same seller on ebay few months ago and I got a bit worried seeing this coin and thinking it could be fake. Now that you guys think it is authentic I can trust him more. here is the coin I got from this seller. What you guys think of it? Report this Post to the Staff
Spence Moderator United States 34425 Posts	Posted 07/31/2018 9:17 pm @AR, you may find these sticky CCF threads to be of interest: http://goccf.com/t/156436 http://goccf.com/t/285634 "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 Report this Post to the Staff
AlRashid Valued Member Canada 167 Posts	Posted 07/31/2018 10:32 pm @Spence thanks for links but we have not come to a conclusion if these are fakes so far it seems they are genuine based on other members opinions Report this Post to the Staff
FVRIVS RVFVS Pillar of the Community United States 3443 Posts	Posted 07/31/2018 11:21 pm You are more likely to see casting "pearls" ie bumps than holes from inferior castings. The pearls are created when bubbles adhere to the wax form being cast Holes are created by impurities in the molten silver when it is poured which later dissolve leaving the tiny holes. Report this Post to the Staff
tenacious Valued Member United States 69 Posts	Posted 08/01/2018 9:28 pm In general - Holes in a cast fake coin are made by bubbles. Bubbles are round. If the holes are round I would be suspicious of the coin and look at it harder. Or not buy it. Holes caused by corrosion are irregular shaped. So if the holes are irregular shaped there's a point towards it being authentic. In the first coin pictures the holes look irregular. Certainly not round. I would want more information like size and weight. And I would like to see it in my hands. But with those reservations the first coin looks authentic to me. Report this Post to the Staff
FVRIVS RVFVS Pillar of the Community United States 3443 Posts	Posted 08/02/2018 06:57 am In general Holes in cast silver are caused by impurities (ie oxides or even flux) which later dissolve. Casting requires "clean" metal unused metal be used or the results will be unsatisfactory. I have cast items before that did have air bubbles which were trapped by inadequate venting of the item being cast. As the molten metal enters the form air must escape from the other end These types of bubble holes tend to be big enough to put your finger in Molten silver does not "fizz" unless impurities are burning inside of it Report this Post to the Staff
FVRIVS RVFVS Pillar of the Community United States 3443 Posts	Posted 08/02/2018 07:05 am My bigger problem with the first coin is that it appears to have been polished Perhaps an attempt to rid the higher parts of the relief of the pitting. In any serious field of numismatics polishing is a definite no no For that reason alone the coin should have been marked 'ungradable' and returned to sender Report this Post to the Staff
Finn235 Pillar of the Community United States 6130 Posts	Posted 08/02/2018 10:40 am IMO, both coins are genuine, but problem coins and probably not worth near the asking price, nor the imaginary premium of being in a plastic tomb. Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 13 / Views: 1,352

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Is This Fake Alexander Coin?