Hi CT friends, Someone on a french forum posted the following coin claiming it's ancient and genuine (of course they do ) but giving no clue as to what it might be. It's supposed to be 27 mm diameter and 14,8 grams I'm far from expert but to my eyes this "coin" has everything wrong : style is cartoonish (childish), patina looks applied and sand just here to enhance devices. The problem is I can't find anything from the internet that might close the case. Or is it something legit I've never seen before, in which case I will gladly learn something ? Thanks in advance for your input Cheers Q
CNG 90, Lot: 261. Estimate $300. Sold for $575. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee. SPAIN, Murtilis. Mid 1st century BC. Æ Half Unit - Semis (25mm, 6.38 g, 5h). Bearded male head left / Eagle standing right, head left, wings spread. Cf. CNH 9 (As); SNG BM Spain –; Gomes, Moedas, MVR11.01 (this coin cited). Good Fine, dark brown and green patina, minor pitting, traces of earthen deposits. Extremely rare. Gomes knows of only two examples, including this coin. From the P.M.L. Collection. CNG 90, Lot: 260. Estimate $300. Sold for $340. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee. SPAIN, Mirtiles. Mid 1st century BC. Æ Unit - As (30mm, 20.50 g, 6h). Bearded male head left / Eagle standing right, head left, wings spread. CNH 9; SNG BM Spain -. Near VF, pale green patina, deposits, area of chipped patina on reverse. Extremely rare. From the P.M.L. Collection. CNG 90, Lot: 259. Estimate $500. Sold for $500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee. SPAIN, Mirtiles. Mid 1st century BC. Æ Unit - As (27mm, 12.28 g, 12h). Laureate and bearded male head left / Eagle standing right, head left, wings spread. CNH 8; SNG BM Spain -. VF, green and brown patina, minor pitting, traces of deposits. Extremely rare. From the P.M.L. Collection. I suspect your coin isn't authentic but can't say with any authority or certainty.
That's great @TIF thank you so much Now, do we agree they are both very different, and the first one very "strange", to say the least, stylewise ? Q
My first thought was that it was overstruck on something (the eagle's body and wings look rather psychedelic) but it's hard to say. The style of the three CNG examples varies quite a bit but still has a consistency which doesn't match the OP coin. Seems like this coin needs to be examined in hand by an expert in this coinage.
This is another example of a coin I would avoid because I don't know enough to separate the non official mint worker 2000 years ago from the one 200 days ago. With official, we can compare to many known examples but here the point of reference is less clear. I am not interested enough to put in the work but I m glad there are some who are. +1 but I am glad I am not an 'expert' who would be called upon to make a definitive call.
at 1st glance i thought it was legit ancient, but also it would be celtic..is that correct assumption?...
I'm not familiar with the type (didnt know it existed in fact). But comparing it to the other published examples the style is inconsistent. But what bothers me more is the extremely smooth surfaces, obviously new patina and the applied soil. So, no. I dont think it is genuine.
I'm new at ancients but I own several having bought them from highly respected and trusted sources. There is something about looking at these pictures that makes me say nice looking coin but don't buy it.
