A really bizarre tetradrachm of Ptolemy I - Arab imitation?

[robinjojo]

Here's a very odd coin that was offered to me last night.  The seller is asking $2,500 which I think is way overpriced.  

The coin, a tetradrachm patterned along the lines of Ptolemy I's Alexandria coin's is clearly an imitation.  The question is from where and is it legitimate?  The weight given to me, of 14 grams, is in the correct range, but the style is very crude and the reverse legends appear to be blundered.  Initially I thought it might be a coin from one of the Celtic tribes, but now I think the coin might be Arabic in origin, possibly northern Arabia.

Has anyone encountered this type?

Edited August 1, 2022 by robinjojo

[ominus1]

1 hour ago, robinjojo said:

Here's a very odd coin that was offered to me last night.  The seller is asking $2,500 which I think is way overpriced.  

The coin, a tetradrachm patterned along the lines of Ptolemy I's Alexandria coin's is clearly an imitation.  The question is from where and is it legitimate?  The weight given to me, of 14 grams, is in the correct range, but the style is very crude and the reverse legends appear to be blundered.  Initially I thought it might be a coin from one of the Celtic tribes, but now I think the coin might be Arabic in origin, possibly northern Arabia.

Has anyone encountered this type?

.it'd almost pass as a Celtic....idk but 2500 smackers is a lot o dough.

Edited August 1, 2022 by ominus1

[sand]

@robinjojo Are those the seller photos? Or are they your photos? The reason, that I'm asking, is that, I wouldn't pay $2,500 for a coin, if the seller photos were such low resolution. I would want to see, higher resolution photos. Or, I would want to see the coin, in my hand, and under a microscope.

However, maybe someone on this forum, can look at the photos, and figure out, if the style looks correct.

Edited August 1, 2022 by sand

[Dwarf]

These local imitations are not uncommon, searching for "Ptolem - Tetra - imitat" (or equivalent) in acsearch or coinarchives show prices of app. 100 to 300 USD net.

The style is definitely not Celtic.

Regards
Klaus

[robinjojo]

48 minutes ago, sand said:

@robinjojo Are those the seller photos? Or are they your photos? The reason, that I'm asking, is that, I wouldn't pay $2,500 for a coin, if the seller photos were such low resolution. I would want to see, higher resolution photos. Or, I would want to see the coin, in my hand, and under a microscope.

However, maybe someone on this forum, can look at the photos, and figure out, if the style looks correct.

Those photos are from the seller. 

That asking price of $2,500 is too high and I'm probably not going to make a counteroffer.  The coin is very odd, an obvious imitation of some sort, with really no information that I can find online.

[robinjojo]

45 minutes ago, Dwarf said:

These local imitations are not uncommon, searching for "Ptolem - Tetra - imitat" (or equivalent) in acsearch or coinarchives show prices of app. 100 to 300 USD net.

The style is definitely not Celtic.

Regards
Klaus

Thanks!  I'll take a look.

[NewStyleKing]

Way, way overpriced!!  about $250  IMHO.  Imitation, yes. Ptolemy ll successfully smashed the Galatian celts!.  Looks to be a copy of a ptolemy l  coin.  That's my humble and not too expert opinion.  What a schnoz,  Ptolemy as Jimmy Durante!

 

NSK=John