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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,377 |
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New Member
Sweden
3 Posts |
I am soon buying my first ancient Tetradracm coin. Does the coin in the picture seem OK - genuine? And the condition of it? I am very new to this.   |
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
 to CCF. Don't buy it until members comment. John1  |
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
to the community It could just be the pictures, so lets see what others will say. IMO it does not look genuine, this type is copied often so you have to be careful where you buy them from. If the coin comes from an established dealer like those on Vcoins chances are that the coin would be genuine. However if you are buying from an unknown seller or on ebay you have to be very,very careful. |
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Moderator
United States
188952 Posts |
to the Community! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1959 Posts |
No comment as to authenticity, however, this coin is faked so much, I can't imagine it not being in a slab if it were authentic. Not saying it isn't authentic, just be very cautious.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Looks OK, but pictures by themselves are not really good enough. Previous posters are right - one of the most widely faked of all ancient coins. Superbly excellent fakes exist.
Syle OK, what is the weight? Need to some pictures of the edge.
The seller needs to have
1. A widely known excellent professional reputation, if not, but preferably also,
2. an independently provable provenance, not just his own made-up story.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3343 Posts |
There are a few "pimples" on the face that look like casting bubbles, which would make it a modern counterfeit. The lips and the owl's eyes don't look typical of the Greek coins either. These coins have been imitated for thousands of years. Here's an interesting link on ancient imitations which look more like yours. http://rg.ancients.info/owls/imitations.html"Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
Edited by thq
01/29/2020 7:40 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
XRF surface metal analysis can sometimes be of help.
Modern struck and cast copies can be made of good quality silver, but the problem is that the silver is a modern two or three metal alloy, with silver as the highest proportion.
The ancients could only refine their silver to a maximum of around 97% fine, the rest is a wide variety of natural junk minerals and metals.
It is the analysis of the 3% that you look at, in particular the range of trace elements, not the silver.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3343 Posts |
A debased silver alloy might be useful for the ancient imitations.
Picked up an elephant quadriga. NGC, excellent strike on the elephants.
"Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
Edited by thq
01/30/2020 12:26 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Sure, the Athenians did, in fact, debase some of their silver coins at various times.
With XRF, it is still the range of junk minerals and trace metals that you look for, instead of the copper or silver.
However, XRF should not be relied upon entirely.
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,377 |
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Posted 01/29/2020 1:55 pm
