Please Help Check This Athens Tetradrachm

I'm no expert on these, but your coin does look a lot like all the specimens I've examined. I never have actually purchased one. The nice ones I've placed bids on always get bid up beyond my limit.

The weight is right, the design looks good, color is consistent with an ancient silver coin that has been thoroughly cleaned. I've been told that examples with the nose tip off the flan are less desirable and typically sell for less; your coin is one of those.

Looks real to me but let's hear from some experts. Sap, perhaps?

First off, let me say that I am far from an expert on these. But, my read on this one is that it is probably not real.

Why do I think this?

While the weight isn't low enough to be entirely indicative, it is suggestive. Yes, you can find examples weighing 16.5 or less, but they generally are in some way worn. This example isn't - not only is it not worn, it's not chipped, abraded, or even misstruck.

Then there's the "rims". Just too perfect.

I'm not sure I like the looks of the alpha, either.

Maybe I'm wrong. As I said, I'm not an expert on these coins. But I certainly am suspicious of this one.

Have dealt with these coins for many years, and while it looks to be a little over-cleaned, I would say it is likely genuine. The metal, stike, die indicators all look good, as does the general "style"...... and it is that "style" that really sets off the real from fake, something you just instinctively pick up after handling many hundreds of these coins. I don't simply mean Athena on one side and the Owl on the other. There are stylistic characteristics that are hard to explain without the added benefit of hands on experience. Kind of a sixth-sense "feel" if you will. Though a little light, 16.5 grams is within tolerances for these particular coins, though 17.1 to 17.2 is generally the ideal. To get a really accurate weight, you need a .xxx decimal gram scale or a carat jewelers scale. Most standard gram/pennyweight scales will not give you that kind of accuracy, so I would guess that has more to do with the discrepancy in weight than anything else.