Stack of Roman & Greek coins at local auction

What type of coin was the Pompey? Two hundred BPs is a large sum to me. I'd have to have a look see at this coin. Your ID's look right to me, but I haven't double checked them.

 

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Sadly the pics have gone from the auction website now the auction is over. It was a Denarius with bust of Pompey the Great on obverse, and Neptune standing between Anapias and Amphinomus on the reverse. My Sears book says RRC 511/3a or RSC 17, S1392. This one was in OK condition - a fair amount of wear, and some bashing around the edges, but readily identifiable.

Book gives VF price at GBP 600.

 

Bashing around the edges is a way of concealing a casting seam so when we consider the other coins in the group, I'd not expect it to be genuine. Here is a fact: You deceive yourself when you expect to find something good mixed in with the bad. Like tends to gather together with like and any coin in this group that might possibly be a fake judging from the images almost certainly is. Fake sellers make money from people who are seeking something for nothing.

 

I certainly agree with that Doug - the only redeeming feature was all the lots came from a collector recently deceased. (I know the auctioneer well, so I know this is true.) I think the collector had been deceived (or deceived himself) into believing he had genuine coins across the board, when clearly some were not. Others clearly were good, so in the end I had to make a judgment on each coin as I saw it. I am happy to take a risk under the GBP 100 mark, but not at GBP 200 or more!

 

These are the "last of the best" from the auction lots on Tuesday. Still hoping someone will ID the Greek looking one from post #31 in this thread!



Diva Faustina (Senior) with Augusta/Ceres reverse (This coin much better in hand - the high relief bust has caused the edges to blur.)
Philip II with Aequitas Augg reverse
Philip II with Pax Aeterna reverse

... If I have them right!

And now I have to admit to a problem. Until this week I only dealt in the occasional Roman or ancient coin to help fund my British Milled collection, but with so many interesting coins in hand at present, I feel myself wavering. I am wondering if I can afford to slip them into the main collection? Would the coin Gods punish me with an eternity of collecting ancient coins? Would I become like Sisyphus, constantly toiling for the unattainable? Can I blame Cointalk for my torment?

 

Yes, ancients have this drug feel to it. Think you only want one or two then day by day you ned a fix & it becomes a addiction. My ancient collecting is from the drug dealers here on CT

Dont know what they put in the kool aid but dang it's tasty!

 

Well Paddy #31 looks like a "Turret head" (Tyche) to me. The reverse is so poor I can not make it out. If its an Eagle it probaly is from the Alexandria mint.

 

Thanks for that Ripley. The reverse seems to show a palm tree with a bird standing underneath - although it may be an eagle it looks more like a peacock!

Lettering across the base seems to end something like ERA. Lettering at the side is in two lines - first seems to include KI (delta). Second line seems to include YNT - maybe from Autocrat - ie emperor in Greek?

Is the doubling of the head on the obverse deliberate? It looks it to me.

 

I'm not sure if it is real... If it is,

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[TD="class: entry_list_desc"]Freeman & Sear, Mail Bid Sale 13, 25
CRETE. Hierapytna. Ca. 100–80 BC. AR “stephanephoric” didrachm (6.91 gm). Turreted head of Tyche right / ΙΕΡΑΠΥ, palm tree; to left, eagle with spread wings standing three-quarters right; to right, magistrate’s signature ΚΥΔΑ / ΝΤΟ (reading upward...

Price: n/a
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The most addicting thing about collecting ancient coins is thinking that you've finally got your collection-direction all figure-out

=> and then "WHAM!!" => some dude posts a jaw-droppin' coin from an area you'd never even heard of before!!

... next thing you know, you're collecting incuse squares, or coins from Syracuse, or coins from *where-eva*

=> there's always a new designer-drug everytime I log-onto this site and open-up one of your tasty threads!!

... and lovin' it!!

 

These aren't cheap...

Same type as posted above... Only three types on Wildwinds

 

I trust you realize that you not only found the coin but proved it to be fake. The acsearch example matches in every way: flan shape, double striking, parts of beads showing, flaws .... everything. We can't say whether the better example was used to produce the weaker or whether both are fake (my opinion). Finding this coin from what you had to go on deserves a giant round of congratulations from us all.

 

Thanks Doug

I actually didn't realize that... I can't find another example of the type (I hope the original is real... this one didn't sell with an estimate of $2,000)

 

I second this thought. I gave up, but you persisted. Way to go young man. Way to go.! :jumping-jack::jumping-jack::jumping-jack:

 

Thanks

 

Ya cocky lil' ....

just kiddin' dawg => congrats, champ!!

:high5:

 

Thanks a million for that Windchild - that is definitely what I have. As Doug points out, down to rather too many details to be comfortable with its authenticity, and so I will have to mark it down clearly as a copy. Never mind - I would never have afforded the original!

Thanks again for all your work - all of you! :u*meY::jumping-jack::jumping-jack::jumping-jack::jumping-jack: