Legit "extremely Fine" Sasanian? Unofficial? Fake? Kosher? Struck?

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Author	Replies: 6 / Views: 2,589
Kamnaskires Pillar of the Community United States 7066 Posts	Posted 01/03/2019 11:22 pm I know next to nothing about Sasanian coins. But I do know that I've grown more disillusioned with VCoins' vetting of its dealers and their wares in recent years. More and more often I find myself looking at an item on the site, and then going back and rereading, for the umpteenth time, their Code of Ethics. Fake patinas and (imo) suspect antiquities have made me wary. Anyway, curious to see your thoughts about the following coin, uploaded today at VCoins. It certainly gives me pause. But, then, Sasanians are not my thing. Maybe it's fine for the type - or just an oddball contemporaneous imitation(?). I will say that it doesn't even come close to ones of the ilk that I've seen - meaning similar Shapur II AR's (although from other mints) with ribbons rather than attendants alongside the fire altar. Those all seem pretty crisp and struck on thin-looking, broad flans. Not dumpy at all. Those that I have seen are all quite attractively engraved. Think this fellow is indeed struck? And what about its "EXREMELY FINE" grading by the VCoins dealer? Really? Anyway, just thought I'd post it for your consideration and thoughts since, as I say, it gave me some pause today. Is this kosher? The listing is here: https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/n_...Default.aspx Edited by Kamnaskires 01/04/2019 12:27 am Report this Post to the Staff

echizento Moderator United States 23731 Posts	Posted 01/04/2019 03:28 am Shapur II had a very long reign from 309-379 it has been said that he was crowned king while still in his mothers womb. Over the course of his rule his coins went through a change from well made example in the style of his father Hormizd II to later ratty looking debased silver examples that showed very little care in design and detail. Looking at this coin and going through my limited resource material I can not find and coins that were struck in his name that resemble this one. So unless this is an unrecorded official type, I would suggest that it's either and unofficial type or an imitation. I'm leaning towards an imitation. Report this Post to the Staff
sel_69l Bedrock of the Community Australia 21786 Posts	Posted 01/04/2019 05:21 am Bob L: I agree with all of your suspicions. Fabric, style, patina and grade all sus. These were the methods that experienced antiquarians used 100 years ago to check for authenticity. They are still relevant - along with provenance. More modern testing methods augment these age old tests. Some good dealers just drop their guard with laziness, sometimes. Doesn't happen often, but I have seen it, and was once a victim of it. In my case, I got my money back, and was able to keep the dud. I have even made this sort of authentication error against myself. Not good, but I did learn. By the looks of it, this coin is pressure die cast. I admit that in this case, I have not researched the possible type as yet. Report this Post to the Staff
Spence Moderator United States 34402 Posts	Posted 01/04/2019 07:17 am Well, someone thought that it was worth $260. I don't have any experience with NBJ, but agree that at a minimum this coin was over-graded. "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
Palouche Pillar of the Community Spain 2752 Posts	Posted 01/04/2019 07:29 am Bob I noticed this seller this morning and thought the same... Here is a couple more..Authentic I dont know...But grading! But I'm probably missing something here?..Rare mint!? Good VF!$360 VF!$75 Edited by Palouche 01/04/2019 07:31 am Report this Post to the Staff
AlRashid Valued Member Canada 167 Posts	Posted 01/04/2019 11:47 pm @Bob I totally agree. I noticed many fakes in the VCoins too. I don't think it is as credible as once was anymore. The only source to purchase that I trust them more now days is CNG . The coin you posted is an obvious cast the surface and texture of metal indicates this. Report this Post to the Staff
Kamnaskires Pillar of the Community United States 7066 Posts	Posted 01/05/2019 12:49 am Interesting to note that the capitalized "EXTREMELY FINE" in the original listing was, at some point after my post, changed to "VERY FINE." Either way an unrealistic grading. Well, whatever opinions we may hold, somebody apparently parted with $260 to acquire it. Report this Post to the Staff
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Legit "Extremely Fine" Sasanian? Unofficial? Fake? Kosher? Struck?