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 Replies: 13 / Views: 1,863 |
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New Member
United States
5 Posts |
I got this Alexander the Great coin neckless in a nice setting and wanted to know if this possible could be a fake or if it is real.   |
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New Member
 United States
5 Posts |
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
texas80: that is exactly what I would expect.
Alexandrian silver tetradrachms were made in truly industrial quantities.
They were the staple silver bullion trade coin in the time of their use,
much like the Spanish 'Piece of Eight' in the times of European colonial expansion, many centuries later.
This coin may? be genuine, (looks to be OK in the pictures), but a much closer examination is needed.
The mounts may have damaged it somewhat.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
807 Posts |
I would say "the real coin is common enough that nobody would go to the trouble of faking it", but I've seen lots of modern replicas of Ch'ing-dynasty cash coins, which are plentiful. I can't even say with confidence "if it's actually silver, not base metal, it's sure to be real".
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
 to the CCF! |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
I have three examples of tourist copies of Alexander tetradrachms; they are quite common.
Nevertheless, I repeat:- OP's coin in pics looks to be OK, but further investigation needed.
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Moderator
Australia
16808 Posts |
As a general rule the ones made into jewellery are replicas, because the coins are valuable enough by themselves - you'd be taking a $500 coin and turning it into a $50 piece of jewellery.
I always assume a jewellery-mounted ancient coin is a replica, until proven otherwise. So would most dealers.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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New Member
United States
5 Posts |
SAP That is one thing I was concerned about. However, I do see many that are confirmed real put into jewelry and not just coins. I have a 1808 East India coin that I got 30 yrs ago in Fla that is set in a money clip.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
 with Sap. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2216 Posts |
Genuine or not, it's worn, rough surfaces, not worth a great amount. These were made for hundreds of years by various rulers from numerous mints, with many different symbols in the fields. If you go to acsearch.info, type in search line Alexander the Great tetradrachm you'll see thousands of examples that have sold in auctions. Or go to Vcoins.com and see the prices for worn/rough examples. Low end prices are in the $100 - $200 range. A major reference book for these is written by Martin Price.
The obverse is Herakles in lion's skin. On reverse is Zeus in chair holding eagle. I don't see a mint mark in the field or under the chair. There's what looks like a torch or club bottom left. Without any more symbols to identify it, in my opinion it is a modern replica, but I'm no expert. If you want, you could send pics of it to some dealers on Vcoins for their opinion and see if they are interested in buying it.
Using coins in jewelry has been done since antiquity. I would not have done it, but years ago my uncle had a genuine Alexander gold stater put in a gold ring. He later sold it.
Edited by livingwater
06/12/2023 08:14 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1120 Posts |
Quote:
As a general rule the ones made into jewellery are replicas, I agree with that, but this mounting looks to be custom fitted by a jeweler, which could be pricey. I once bought a rare Galba denarius pin at a significant discount. Luckily, I was able to remove the coin without damage.  Edited by travelcoin
06/12/2023 08:07 am
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Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
to the Community! |
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New Member
United States
5 Posts |
Livingwater. As to your comment, I don't see a mint mark in the field or under the chair. There's what looks like a torch or club bottom left. Without any more symbols to identify it, in my opinion, it is a modern replica, but I'm no expert. I see 100s and 100s with no markings under the chair and the one to the left I was told is a lighting bolt.
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Replies: 13 / Views: 1,863 |
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Posted 06/11/2023 08:47 am
