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 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,993 |
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Valued Member
New Zealand
89 Posts |
Hi there - I've spotted this in an online auction. It purports to be from Herod Agrippa, Jerusalem mint. I assume it's a prutah. I don't have the expertise to judge its authenticity but I am suspicious because of its Biblical connections, which might make it a likely target for the counterfeit/souvenir trade, and because the seller hasn't listed ancients before. The surface looks a bit odd too? These are the seller's pics so the best I have. Any views welcome. I've founds reports of cast fakes http://www.forumancientcoins.com/fa...um=35&pos=86 but can't judge if this one is cast.    Edited by pdg
07/03/2020 8:26 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Looks okay to me. Yes, Agrippa I, Jerusalem mint, year 6, 41/2 AD, Hendin 1244.
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Agrippa I, year 6, 41/2 AD. Bob beat me to it.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
Because the originals in most cases are so poorly made,
and because of their historical and Biblical significance,
there exists a very real temptation to produce better quality fake coins for the tourist trade.
To my eye, this example looks to be OK,
but like the OP, I cannot convince myself to be 100% certain.
The originals seem to have been made in large quantities, and so they are cheap enough to obtain,
but if you have been fooled, it it not a huge monetary loss.
I have had the same issues with Chinese and Islamic bronze coins, but in most cases, they have turned out to be genuine.
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CCF Advertiser
United States
1303 Posts |
Here is a Judean lot from ebay, not mine, that gives you an idea of the going price. Been up for quite some time. A huge number were made and there is an obvious one of these in there. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-14-...AOSwmeNeUwoEIf you want to have a lot of fun collecting try becoming an expert on his grandfather Herod the Greats coins. Lots and lots of low end coins available that were made very crudely quite often but such varieties! This is a favorite book of mine below: https://books.google.com/books/abou...mNNy5i-TGw4C |
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Valued Member
 New Zealand
89 Posts |
Great, thanks everyone for the feedback. I am happy to be mistaken in believing that coins from the Holy land would necessarily be rare or probable fakes.
If I get it - if the bidding doesn't get carried away - I'll post some better pics.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3433 Posts |
Stay "cheap"
There are always second chances with the common type of small bronzes
There are good quality fakes that can fool experts
You might be better off buying a small group lot
The price tends to be much better
Fakes often can get 'salted' into these group lots
But ....... you are near 100% certain that most will be genuine !
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CCF Advertiser
United States
1303 Posts |
Honestly also, I have handled many ancient coins of all types. And aside from one type off Sicily I forget now I can say the bronze the Judean coins are made of certainly was not that great. I have had the most trouble with them and whenever I sell one I put a desiccant packet in the bag and say keep dry.) So either they are completely corroded or they are hard to keep stable. (In wet climates. Like if I sell to someone in an island off Georgia I always worry about the coin long term.
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Valued Member
New Zealand
89 Posts |
Update: The Herod Agrippa prutah eventually sold for NZ$51 (about US$35), out of my budget and more than some of the ebay auctions I was pointed to. But I learnt some new things so it was worthwhile. Thanks again! |
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,993 |
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Posted 07/03/2020 8:42 pm
