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 Replies: 16 / Views: 2,572 |
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New Member
United Kingdom
7 Posts |
*** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. Previously posted in US Modern Coins. ***I found this coin in a purchased box for a medal. I'm sure it's a fake because I can't find anything like it? Just wondered on some expert advice. Thanks  
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Moderator
 United States
34413 Posts |
@MJC, first welcome to CCF. Second, I've recommended to the mods that your thread be moved to a more appropriate location within CCF so that we can get the right eyeballs on it. Third, any chance of you taking and adding in-focus pics to this thread? Finally, it would also be potentially useful to have a pic of the edge of this piece.
"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 Kingdom
7 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
34413 Posts |
Ok yes those are much better pics. I have taken the liberty of rotating and cropping the rev (easier on old eyes). If you could also please post the weight and diameter, I think that might be helpful.  I don't see a parting line, which is a good start but not definitive. Others will be on soon enough to offer their opinions. "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 Kingdom
7 Posts |
Thank you so much for your help.
Weight is 14g and 21mm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
900 Posts |
Edited by Jadey
12/11/2018 07:29 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
900 Posts |
From the article NGC Ancients: Civic Badges on Greek CoinsQuote:
One of the great traditions of humankind, dating perhaps from the earliest phases of civilization, is the use of symbols to represent social units that range from individuals or families, to much larger confederations like cities, nations or regions.
The Roman emperor Augustus chose the Sphinx, a mythological lion with wings and a human head, as his personal badge, and an early Greek king of Egypt, Ptolemy I, chose as his insignia Zeus' eagle perched on a thunderbolt. Both of these men used their chosen designs on coins. In the case of Ptolemy it was the principal reverse type of his kingdom's coinage for 250 years. |
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New Member
United Kingdom
7 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
900 Posts |
You're welcome. Did you get my edited link, the one with thumbnails? I deleted the first link I posted and replaced it. Also, I was perusing this site and noticing that many of the tetradrachms are 14 grams, but all of them are larger diameter than yours, ranging from 25-28 mm. Yours is quite significantly smaller. |
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New Member
United Kingdom
7 Posts |
I did thank you. Yes one side is very worn down! A great read and a great find. Thank you
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
It is a Ptolemy tetradrachm, or at least pretending to be one. These are commonly faked. The design is good and there isn't any hint of casting that I can see, but it is very small at 21mm and I couldnt find any that small, they generally do not get smaller than 24mm and at that point design is lost off the edge. The real deal is quite thick, but this one should be really really thick to be only 21mm - it makes me think it might not silver and the small size is to maintain weight (they minted these by striking blanks of a certain weight rather than width). Can you tell in hand what the metal is?
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Moderator
United States
188725 Posts |
 to the Community! |
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New Member
United Kingdom
7 Posts |
Thanks Ben. It does look like real silver.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
616 Posts |
It's got that old silver look. If it's silver and they struck it then I'm  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
I agree, looks good. Couldn't find a match for it amongst reported fakes. Looks like Ptolemy IX, with the datemark LI (10th year of his reign, 106/7 BC) and mintmark PA (Paphos, Cyprus) one of the late rulers of Ptolemaic egypt - here is a depiction of him being crowned pharaoh:  |
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New Member
United Kingdom
7 Posts |
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Replies: 16 / Views: 2,572 |
Posted 12/11/2018 06:47 am
