A load of Fakes?

I took my wife to the doctor today. His office is about 20 miles away. Anyway, there is a small coin shop with which I sometimes do business when I'm around that area. He does not specialize in Ancients, and he rarely has any for sale. Today, however, he brought out a baggie with six ancient coins he had been holding back to ask me if I wanted them or, if nothing else, could I help him identify. I immediately saw the obvious fake and told him the others were suspect since he bought them from the same source. So he asked if I could double check and let him know. He then brought out what I believe to be a authentic coin of Philip I and asked the same of me.

So, without further ado, I would like your opinions. I know what I think about the lot.

11.3g, 28mm

9.3g, 27mm

8.1g, 27mm

5g, 20mm

5g, 20mm

12.7g, 27mm

4.1g, 23mm

 

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Philip looks ok to me, but I am easily fooled.

 

At first glance they all look good to me except the Antoninus Pius, which is glaringly fake.

 

I am just an amateur, but that coin at bottom looks the most authentic.

 

The 3rd coin appears to be a bronze or base metal fake of a Lysimachus tetradrachm with Poseidon. If silver, it should be about 17 grams, and it is half that weight.

 

I would wager the first 6 to be cast copies, by only looking at the photos.

 

All of the coins except the Philip I are base metal.

 

We all know it seems that I can be wrong. But the 2nd to the bottom just reaches out to be b-slapped. I'm on a small screen device can't make out the legend very well but I think it's the Antoninus JA point ted out.

 

Just so I can show the shop owner, does anyone care to offer an opinion of value on the last coin (the only coin I believe to be authentic), the Philip I?

 

If real less than $30 in a retail setting.

 

Thank David@PCC. That is what I told the shop owner. That I thought it might be worth around $30-$40. Remember. It was separate from the others in the baggie.

PHILIP I
AR Antoninianus
OBVERSE: IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right
REVERSE: VICTORIA AVG, Victory advancing right with palm & wreath.
Struck at Rome 244-247 AD
4.1g, 23mm
RIC 49b, RSC 227

 

The last coin looks fine but all others are fake.

 

i'm with everyone else, i would be really surprised if the philip i was fake....the rest, besides the very obvious AP..i don't really like either. some of it may be the company they are keeping. (not you, the fake coins ).

 

Glad you added that last thought, Chris.

 

I'm of the opinion of the majority...the Antoninus is an obvious fake and the Philip coin appears to be the only unquestionable coin of the bunch----and the price of about $30+ seems about right to me.

 

The problem with a Philip is that there are enough of them that you not only have to decide it is real but you have to find someone who wants one in that grade. $30 might be a fair price but I would not bet someone willing to buy it will wander in very often. Victory is a common type. Right or left? Just standing there? For Victory, I'm out of the market.




Over on Forvm, owner Joe posted what I consider to be very good advice.
1. Either know the coin or know the seller.
2. Don't ask people to authenticate coins based only on photos.
3. "We want you be a smart collector. Don't ask us to help you be not smart."

I see the Philip as quite possibly genuine but it is not something I would buy considering the company it keeps.

 

Which particular empress (Severan dynasty?) is that one with the Artemis of Ephesus reverse supposed to be?

 

I have no idea. I tried to read the coin but without any luck. I was hoping someone here might be familiar.

 

You can get an excellent Philip for $40. To me, that makes the Philip worth much less than $30.

 

I got this Philip for something like $51 including auction house fees and shipping, so I would imagine @Bing 's Philip should not be more than $30-$35 either



Mind you, Bing's Philip could become a $40 coin with a little bit of acetone and lemon juice treatment. I think the uneven toning and dirt/deposits are detracting from what could potentially be a better coin once cleaned.