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 Replies: 16 / Views: 3,148 |
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New Member
Chile
4 Posts |
Hi all! I'm new to this forum and began collecting silver coins less than a year ago. I would like to ask for your opinion on an Alexander the Great Tetradrachm I own. I bought it recently on ebay. Its a Posthumous Pella mint, circa 275-270 BC. Weight 16.13 gr Size: 27 mm x 24,1 mm Thank you all for your guidance     |
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Welcome. My 2 cents: Personally, I'd be concerned about several things. I don't like the way that, in the obverse picture, the edge at the top and at 1:00 looks like it projects/folds over the front. The extra metal around the ear is problematic. And the surface seems off - meaning the color of the "silver" (if that's what it is), which sort of looks like it's been applied, as a wash or paint, over top of a base core. I could be reading that one wrong - it's hard to tell from the photo if the dark spots are under or over the silver - but the impression I get is that the surface material has been scraped away in several spots to reveal the darker areas. (And the fabric doesn't seem, to me, to be that of an ancient fouree) Also, I wonder if the edge shots reveal some filing - which would also be concerning.
Edited by Kamnaskires
04/11/2021 12:56 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2099 Posts |
Evidence of a seam on the edge and filing to mask it would make me very worried. I suspect it is a cast.
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CCF Advertiser
United States
1303 Posts |
Well since you bought it on ebay I did a search to find the coin and did. The seller says it is guaranteed for life and knowing the pedigree can help others decide about the seller which can be helpful to determine more information about the coin. So this post link below is for others who are helping you and this was not a coin of mine etc. https://www.ebay.com/itm/KINGS-of-M...224364464683 |
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New Member
 Chile
4 Posts |
Thank you all for you commentaries. I got concerned about the "color" that Bob L suggested so I did a little (just little) cleaning (some of you might kill me haha) and the dark spots are definitely over the silver. Excuse my inexpertice, but what does "filing" means in this context? Thank you all
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
It doesn't look right to me either. I agree with what the others had to say.
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CCF Advertiser
United States
1303 Posts |
Well since you said you did a bit of cleaning I thought I might show the ebay photo from the dealer and the one you posted side by side as that might help some folks. Again, not a coin of mine just helping out.  |
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New Member
Chile
4 Posts |
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CCF Advertiser
United States
1303 Posts |
OK now encrustation may look bad on a coin to people, I understand that. But it is not just material cemented to a perfect coin surface. It usually is on top of a corroded part of the coin. So removing it can leave a person seeing pitting, which was there before, but covered by the encrustation. Hope that makes sense. Anyway after all of this I think you coin is real. And that is just my opinion. I might have left the encrustation myself but you have your own feeling on what you like to see on your coin.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1554 Posts |
A filed edge is always a red flag. It isn't proof in itself that the coin is fake but it needs to be explained. Filing can be an attempt to hide signs of casting. Looking through this seller's sold listings, I find that most of his raw silver has the same unusually rough, corroded look.
Edited by Kushanshah
04/11/2021 10:39 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
Canada
24885 Posts |
 To the Forum. |
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Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
to the Community! |
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Moderator
United States
34393 Posts |
Quote:
A filed edge is always a red flag.  I would return this one. "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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CCF Advertiser
United States
1303 Posts |
Spence; Can he return it if he cleaned this much encrustation from it?  |
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New Member
Chile
4 Posts |
Thank you all for your interpretations, I have found out there is a store in my city with the equippment to meassure the metals on the coin. When quaratine is over I intend to go there and will share what I find out.
Lousvillekyshop I really appreciate all of your comments, just for correction, the two pictures you are showing are the same but on different light settings, the coin was untouched until yesterday were I carefully removed the black stain on the 11 oclock in the reverse (which actually got removed pretty easily with a simple piece of cloth). I have realized by all the comments that there are some odd things on the coin but I cling on the possibility that is real (has Louisvillekyshop stated). I do not intend to return the coin.
Thank you all and sorry for any misspelling (im not native speaker)
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Replies: 16 / Views: 3,148 |
Posted 04/11/2021 12:55 pm
