Tetradogma

My one win, tempted to try and (delicately) remove those deposits. Some nice detail on this example, these tend to be very worn, but then again they are almost 2 and a half thousand years old! Persia. Achaemenid Empire. Sardeis. Time of Darios II to Artaxerxes II 420-375 BC. Siglos AR, 16 mm, 5,55 g Persian king or hero, wearing kidaris and kandys, quiver over shoulder, in kneeling-running stance to right, holding dagger and strung bow / Incuse punch. Carradice Type IVA; BMC Arabia 175-177; Klein 763; SNG Kayhan 1031.

Great job doing the lables but seems crazy to me to keep such high value and beautiful coins in plastic pages rather than trays or a cabinet?!

Is it not more likely someone used those names as a joke? As someone mentioned above Roma bidding at Nomos didn't use a name that linked to their company name

Sorry, know this is an old post, was chatting with @Kaleun96 about Rob Davis cases then saw @sand interesting comments on cabinet wear, got me thinking, doing some googling. It appears most velvet is a silk/viscose mix and usually about 18% silk, 82% viscose, and dyed. I am fairly confident most trays use this silk/viscose mix as pure silk velvet is insanely expensive. I have an Abafil tray and it is advertised as velvet but does not specify synthetic or natural. Presumably the former. Either way I think synthetic silk velvet probably significantly reduces cabinet wear compared to the more abrasive wool felt. I do wonder about off-gassing from the viscose though as I don't believe it is an inert material, would be interested in anyones thoughts on this. Incidentally don't think anyone mentioned above that these coin trays are mahogany and untreated. I spoke to Rob about this as I was interested and he said he bought a huge stock of mahogany a few years ago as it is now an endangered wood and not commercially available. I think this makes Rob's cabinets really unique because mahogany is the timber traditionally used for long term storage of coins (the British Museum uses it) as it is one of the most "stable" timbers and doesn't off gas

Thanks and no, it was G. Hirsch Nachfolger (Germany)

A recent auction win Im very fond of, sorry the attribution is in German, but think you'll get the gist! I've only recently started trying to pick up Hellentistic coins, thought they were always out of my price range and after a bit of watching and patience have found a few my budget can stretch to. ASIA, SYRIA, SELEUCIS & PIERIA., SELEUKEIA, Tetradrachm 100/99 BC Kopf der Stadttyche r. mit Mauerkrone und Schleier. Rs: Blitz auf Kissen, das auf einem geschmückten Stuhl liegt. Jahresangabe 10. Alles in Kranz. Cohen, DCA 697, 10. 14.87g, Schöne Tönung. Rs. min. Doppelschlag. fast vzAus alter bayerischer Sammlung. :

I posted a bronze Constans for sale in a FB group, someone sent me a link clearly showing it was a pressed fake. I contacted the seller, also LAC and the issue me a refund immediately with apologises. They're a good company in my opinion and will do they right thing if you can determine this is a fake.

Hmmm not sure the Brits are due thanks, given that the Museum damaged them in the 1930s.... https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/nov/12/helenasmith

But that's my point - presumably CNG wouldn't make that claim if they didn't have evidence. Doesn't necessarily mean its been reported to the police

To re-iterate, there is no way a head at CNG would plubically state they had informed Leu about stolen coins if they weren't 100% certain of that fact. If incorrect they would be making themselves liable for defamation, a risk I just do not think they would take.

This just published, relating to the Gaza Hoard coins and Beale's admission of knowingly selling them: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-66594076?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA&fbclid=IwAR1snkpCIkHR0uXwDqkSoxbTakxdjk9S44fdxToojh7ROmkqGqPbReX4OcU

"While Higgs used a pseudonym to sell items on eBay, a portal on his Paypal account linked to his Twitter feed, where he used his real name" What a dim wit, honestly. It's like he wanted to be caught.

Leu rapidly gaining the reputation of shadiest auction house. Saw the post on FB about the stolen coins being offered but no reference to which coins they were. Shockingly bad practice. Only personal (bad) experience I have had with them is suspicious, probably shill, bidding. Will be staying away in the future.

Virtually no one in Europe cares about slabs, very specific American fetish. Over-paying new collectors/investor funds seems to be peaking, interesting to see how long this hype runs for

Dammit, I can feel myself getting sucked in so many affordable and beautiful coins and this history is just fascinating

Amazing, thank you, I had Sulayman I The Magnificent on my list, the danger is though the more I learn about this period of coins the more likely I am going to want to start collecting them - whats the saying, "ignorance is cheaper" or something? Thanks for the info, will look them up, the Artuqids of Mardin bronze is very interesting - cheers

Sorry - this is a bit of a broad question, long story short a friend of mine recently helped with some building work, wouldn't take any money but I want to get something to say thank you. He has an interest in early Islamic and Ottoman Empire history and I know there are some very beautiful, but not super super expensive, gold coins from that period but really have no idea where to start. (I collect Classical Greek) I don't want to mention anything as he'll try and talk me out of it but no idea where to start, would like something that appeals to his historical funny bone Any thoughts hugely appreciated, again, sorry this is quite a broad query! Thanks

Thanks folks, making me feel better!

Oops, sorry, forgot to add info, pls see below. I did also bake the coin but not for very long or very high temp, enough to remove any residual moisture, as I was worried about what I'd done. That didn't make any visual difference. I have it stored with silica gel packs in the case. I think the previous owner had added something/filled areas, but that's just a hunch. Will give it a re-weigh, what's your thinking with that?? Thanks PONTOS, Amisos, Æ Time of Mithradates VI (Circa 85-65 BC) 7.9g, 23mm Obv: Bust of Amazon right, wearing wolf skin headdress. Rev: AMIΣOY./ Nike advancing right, holding palm frond and wreath SNG BM Black Sea 1218-9; HGC 7, 244.

Have a feeling I'm going to get told off..... So - this coin developed very aggressive bronze disease after a few months in my cabinet. It was surprising how rapid the growth was. Long story short I think my sodium sesquicarbonate/distilled water solution was out and it too aggressively stripped the patina. Good news the BD has ceased but the coin has suffered. I feel really bad about this, but it would have just continued and gotten worse if I hadn't done something. Would be interested in peoples thoughts. Please don't scold me too much. I read somewhere that baking can blacken bronze but Im leaning towards best leaving as is... Many thanks

So am I right in thinking this coin has probably been looted? I appreciate Turkish laws around antiquities is problematic, but is resultant of other nations plundering from them over the centuries and yes in its current state the law actively encourages a black market and illegal trade. I also noted the flood of tetradrachms of Tigranes II, similar to the on going high supply of owl tets from the 2018 hoard. Are people not bothered about the looting of others' heritage? Im not getting on a high horse here, I collect Greek silver so am in the same camp (As a side note, I've always found the legitimising of an English aristocrat provenance hilarious, it's just means it was stolen longer ago!)

Was highest bid at 600CHF and then got out bid in the last few seconds on this one, I think whoever got this for 650CHF got an absolute bargain! I would have bid a little more but had already reached my budget for the month (7 days in lol) Congrats to the winner, thought I'd snagged Larissa this time, but no

Sorry to deviate from the interesting turn this conversation is having, but was wondering whether anyone had thoughts on the impact this legislation could have on AH/dealers/collectors - I've been reading (in annex II of regulation 2921/2079) about the requirement of, among other things, 7 photos per item exported, plus alot of onerous additional information that makes sending items between countries far more labour intensive than it currently is and the concern is that this either makes transferring between countries too difficult to be cost effective or it'll just drive up prices as AH/dealers have to factor in all that additional work in their premiums and service/handling fees, effectively forcing people to only buy nationally and not internationally

Would be interested in people's thoughts on this - could this kill the hobby or just be a hindrance and annoyance?? https://culturalpropertynews.org/is-the-eu-sleepwalking-into-an-art-market-nightmare/?fbclid=IwAR3iZvSHfV-dEVH-fx97pkjXaiQpipDldaN3fHIAtH6d6i-iS3VWBgFqLNw

Just looking at the provenance - isn't that the same Baron Dominique de Chambrier the Swiss aristocrat who was allegedly offered 100,000 CHF to say the Eid Mar was part of their collection?