An Afghani local gave this to me the other day as a thankyou. He said he isn’t sure of the value or the authenticity, but that his family member smuggled it out of Iraq from a destroyed museum several years ago. He had a small handful of different similar coins. The fact he gave it to me and didn’t try to sell it too me says something. It’s tarnish shows no real rust or green, looks like typical silver tarnish. I haven’t been able to weigh but it’s heavy, maybe 16-30 grams. It rings like a silver. I’m thinking Alexander the Great maybe, but the border and head band on the face as well as the obverse throws me off. Obverse has a deep wound from hitting something hard, and it shows no discoloration. Help! Hahaha
Probably a modern copy of a Sasanian tetradrachm, or maybe an unofficial "barbaric" issue? I'm not an expert on these coins, but the portrait looks really odd, and something about the reverse troubles me too. I doubt it's anything oficial from the Royal Sasanian mint Here is an official drachm minted during the late empire...and this king is mentioned in the Bible too. Demetrius I Soter AR drachm (minted circa 152-151 BCE)
I was thinking in the tetra area too, I just can’t find one that really resembles this one. Searching for known counterfeits as well, we all know the fakes are abundant around these parts
Again, I doubt it's real, but if it were and it got smuggled from a museum as you claim, that is a big no no around these parts. We don't condone theft of coins, though I understand you had nothing whatsoever to do with that.
Right, I don't condone such things either. Again, it's what an afghani local claimed, likely a tall tale. They tell a lot of those haha
Yeah, comparing the reverse legends, although they took care to replicate it, I see some differences in execution that raise red flags, portrait style is still off, and the border details on the obverse seem a little off. I still say fake, though I hope to be proven wrong. Good luck.
its a gift, above all else... but it might be authentic too... maybe get you interested in ancient coins anyway...
Ignorantia juris non excusat... And upload yer picture with the coin has not been a good idea, IMHO... I would advise against it, just saying. Afghanistan, Iraq, museum, smuggling... Semper Fi? Too much information, mate.
