question of authenticity

[lim]

Can you tell me if these coins are genuine? And how much are these coins worth? The weight of Amphipolis is 17.01 grams, 25 mm. AKKO is 16.83 grams, 28 mm.

[Ryro]

Nobody can positively tell you those coins are authentic via photograph. Only that if are fakes. 

These are an incredibly bountiful, popular, and so forged type. If you don't trust the dealer enough to ask a public forum I would pass. 

[lim]

On what basis are you sure that these are fakes? If you look closely at the front side of the coin, there is no casting immediately.

[lim]

if we talk about the second coin of the Shooting Gallery, then recently a coin similar in stamp was held at one of the famous auctions.

[sand]

Hello @lim. Welcome to Nvmis Forvms.

I don't see any glaring signs of a fake. But, I'm not an expert in the coin type, and I'm not an expert in detecting fakes.

If the diameters and weights of the coins are correct, and if the coins are authentic, then the coins are Alexander The Great tetradrachms.

If the 2 coins are authentic, then I estimate that the 1st coin is worth approximately $600 because it has nice style and nice eye appeal, and the 2nd coin is worth approximately $350 because it has average style and average eye appeal. But, these are very rough estimates, based on what I've seen on the market. Also, if an Alexander tetradrachm was minted during Alexander The Great's lifetime (lifetime issue), then that increases the value of the coin. If the legs of Zeus are not crossed (which is true for the 1st coin), then that increases the probability that the coin is a lifetime issue.

Check the edge of each coin, to ensure that there is no casting seam, or file marks from someone attempting to hide a casting seam. Some ancient coins have casting seams, from when the planchet was created/cast, but Alexander tetradrachms do not, as far as I know.

Check the fake coin database at the following web site (click on Search : Fake Coin Reports) to see if any fakes match the coins (search for Alexander tetradrachm). You may have to register with an email address, to search the fake coin reports. I don't remember : https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?board=16.0 

Look at examples of the coins at the following web site. Search for Alexander tetradrachm. If you find a die match for either coin, then that's a good sign, but the coin could still be a cast fake. To view the large high resolution photos, you must register, by providing an email address : https://www.acsearch.info/ 

Search Vcoins, a reputable coin web site where many dealers sell ancient, medieval, and modern coins, for Alexander tetradrachm, to see the prices for which the coins are offered : https://www.vcoins.com/en/Default.aspx 

There are probably some Nvmis Forvms members, who are somewhat knowledgeable about Alexander tetradrachms, and detecting fakes. Perhaps a few such Nvmis Forvms members will see this thread, and provide their analysis. It may take a day or so.

Good luck.

sand

Edited October 29, 2024 by sand

[lim]

There was no such type of coin in the aisles. The variety of the Amphipolis coin is rare.

[lim]

Recently, there have been very few coins of Alexander the Great on vcoins. And their quality has dropped. There's only a Macedonian 5 coins worth and they're worse than what I imagined.

[Kali]

Looks okay to me.

[lim]

Is this Amphipolis coin better than that Amphipolis in quality? Although the types are different. But the first type is less common.

[lim]

Are there experts on the forum? I plan to buy a lifetime Macedonian coin, I need help.

[JAZ Numismatics]

These get faked so often I would not venture an opinion on their authenticity myself, but I must say all the coins you've posted in this thread look ok to me. The bright coin seems harshly cleaned though, with perhaps some minor deposits of horn silver. Personally, I prefer the darker examples. They're naturally toned and have better surfaces. I would only buy one of these tets if the seller had a lifetime guarantee of authenticity, and it was properly vetted against the various forgery databases. Then I might take it to a show and get a few opinions from dealers just to be sure.

An "expert" isn't going to tell you a coin is 100% authentic from merely an image. That's what amateurs do (or unscrupulous sellers).

[John Conduitt]

Who are you buying from? If it's a good dealer their opinion is better than someone onlline. If it's eBay, you need to know what you are doing.

[lim]

where the second coin is, there, firstly, it is double minted and traces of impact are visible. What might affect the price. And it makes no sense to take it as an investment.

Edited October 29, 2024 by lim

[lim]

Two amphipolis. The first owner is a local dealer with twenty years of experience and a 100% rating. The second dealer is a global dealer, also with a 100% rating. And as for AKKO - TYR, it's a private owner. And it is not clear what caused such a strong erasure on the throne of Zeus. Although on the front side, the coin seems to be perfect. Perhaps it was just not a high-quality scan related to the problems of the wars of the dyadochs.

[lim]

Thank you so much for expressing your opinion!!!

[lim]

As for ebay, I try not to buy there.

[JAZ Numismatics]

Double strikes are common in this series and have no effect on the value. Whichever coin you buy, make sure the seller has a generous return policy. You could send the coin to NGC for authentication as well. 

[lim]

This coin has a defect. There's a streak going on.

[lim]

I wanted to ask you about the TYRE- Akko coin. Why does she have such an uncut Zeus? Is this a badly worn coin, or is it just that the minter didn't strike it?

[lim]

Is AKKO-TYRE worth taking or is it better to find better quality?

[JAZ Numismatics]

I'm not sure what you mean by "uncut," but all I see on the Akko coin is normal circulation wear. These coins were struck in high relief, and the highest parts of the devices typically receive the most wear when handled. In fact, one sign of authenticity is the correct type of wear pattern, which this coin has - the devices meet the fields sharply, but the high points are rubbed down a bit. When everything is uniformly mushy, that's when you should be suspicious of a cast fake.

Personally, I like the coin. It's well-struck on a large flan, and it's not over-cleaned. The wear is normal, and indicates that the coin was actually used in commerce. Whether you should buy it depends on the price and whether you like it yourself.

[lim]

What makes me doubtful about this coin is that even in the poorer quality of the coins, Zeus is usually more clearly visible there. And here, with such a clear portrait, such a smoothed-out Zeus.

[Deinomenid]

5 minutes ago, lim said:

What makes me doubtful about this coin is that even in the poorer quality of the coins, Zeus is usually more clearly visible there.

If you are doubtful, then why not just move  on? These coins  come up all the  time so  there will be plenty more.

[lim]

For example, the quality of the portrait is worse than on the coin that I exhibited, but the quality of Zeus is ideal.

[lim]

Compared to what it was before, now the number of coins has decreased significantly. 

Edited October 29, 2024 by lim