I’m trying to complete a basic set of Fel Temps with each major reverse type. I found one with a Phoenix reverse that I liked a lot. I share this one for opinions of authenticity because the seller said it was coming from London but it arrived today from the dreaded Bulgaria. Is there anything suspicious about it in general? Constantius II 17mm 2.91g DN CONSTAN-TIVS PF AVG, pearl diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right Rev: FEL TEMP REPARATIO, radiate phoenix standing right on globe Mintmark: CONSA RIC VIII Constantinople 93 var, rated R4/R5 (according to Wildwinds) Angled for better light:
it looks fine...there even seems to be silvering. It's not in RIC, so not a variation of 93, but an unlisted mintmark. Apparently others are known though.
Thanks Victor I really value your input. When writing the attribution should I reference RIC 93 as being similar or is there a better way to detail it?
I would probably write something like cf. RIV VIII Constantinople 93 (star in mintmark). cf. is an abbreviation of the Latin confer/conferatur and means compare.
As you mentioned this one is on WildWinds (Constantinople RIC VIII 93v) it is also on the Fel Temp Helvetica Spreadsheet - www.forumancientcoins.com/dane/fel-temp-others.xls - with the note: I see another couple online for purchase and @Sallent may have one as well. In any case I like it! -d
Thanks so much for taking the time to respond with such detail @Victor_Clark & @dadams I’m excited to add this one to my Fel Temps mini-series.
I think the OP coin is quite real. If it's a fake, then it's the best damn fake I've ever seen. Quite sure the coin is ancient.
I was probably being paranoid. Ebay seller checked out by not being on the fake sellers list, has 17 years and 100% on eBay, and his other coins looked legit. Because so many fakes are coming out of his country he probably has to obscure the origin to keep buyers interested.
You can see parallel striations in the fields of the coin; clear evidence that the dirt/crust was cleaned off with a micro pen/needle tool. Can't say that I've seen any fakes with evidence of that sort of cleaning.
