Yes, at times I check out Ebay listings and I've purchased many a coin from that venue. I'm much more careful than I used to be. Mostly I buy from sellers I have used in the past, but, if I see something for sale by a seller I do not know, I check out the seller in the NSFL and the coin I check through known fakes. Additionally, I sometimes ask for opinions of other collectors before I squeeze that trigger. There are a lot of fakes for sale on Ebay. Some are really convincing fakes. Especially those from Eastern Europe, i.e. Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, etc. One has to be very careful.
I am not great at it, but the metal is all weird on this, its a famous, (famously faked) silver tetradrachm design from Athens, yet here is on some coppery flan. 1960's era fakes had this "look". I don't think they were made to fool collectors, but to give US collectors or the general public the ability to "hold history" cheaply.
Let me ask a hypothetical question, @Kentucky : let’s suppose there is NO Coin Talk, no other interactive site to answer your question. With your professional background in the sciences, I believe chemistry, would you honestly pay money for this supposed ancient coin? I rarely to never render opinions on authenticity. However, I use my horse-sense to “if in doubt, kick em out!” Personally, in my filtering / selection process, I would not give this coin a second look. Cmon, Kentuck, you should see that the coin does not “look right” from a chemical-composition view-point as an ancient coin. Ebay? Like many of us have said, know the Seller and/or know the coin. I would suggest comparing that coin to same coins on the MANY reputable selling or ancient coin selling sites. If anything a quick check on Vcoins, MA-Shops, CNG, and a plethora of sites put up by many of the folks can quickly validate your own thoughts, and quickly educate your eye. Why waste you time and money on doubts? Get past the addiction of surfing ebay if you don’t understand ancients. We have repeatedly given names of REPUTABLE ancients sellers on ebay. STAY WITHIN THOSE SELLERS. Why waste your time posting it?
Not any more a waste of my time to post it than for someone to reply. I would not have bought it unless it was selling as a novelty at a very low price, but I think I stated that I am not a good judge of these and if someone had said "Oh, that's a good example of the barbarous ones made in Sardinia" I would have learned something. Otherwise it's good for a laugh.
Ok, I git it. I was in no way admonishing you, rather, trying to apply how I chase after coins. I just find that there can be too many schisters out there, or folks that do not know and FEEL they have an ancient coin. I honestly would hate for you to loose good money, when there are so many OTHER places than dubious sellers on ebay that you can find REAL ancients with no real hassles. Like I said, there are LISTS of good eBay Sellers. I focus there so that I can learn what real ancients are. THEN, when I am comfortable with my abilities, THEN I shop other Sellers. KNOWING that you are NOT good at spotting fakes, why are you wading around a sea of turds in ebay, versus going to KNOWN and reputable Sellers, whether on ebay or other venues?
Actually I posted a thread on reputable e-bay sellers some time in the past and got pretty good feedback. I need to revisit it and compile the answers/suggestions. https://www.cointalk.com/threads/uh-e-bay.360932/
Thanks, read through it. Had not seen it. Glad you are amassing a list! There are several other Sellers that I have used. Sometimes, I go to vcoins, and and MA-shops, and will find the Sellers on ebay also. I also create a relationship that we work directly. But, that means trusting each other outside the venues. Enjoy!
I have to admit that with ancients, I have no focus other than having some interesting coins. With that in mind, e-bay is cheap, and I don't think I have bought any fakes, since I am overly cautious and usually ask here either before or after a purchase or both.
If you have time and like looking at coins, (who doesn't), I highly suggest spending hours looking at good ancient coin auctions. Train your eye to what real coins look like. Then, when perusing Ebay, you will see the fakes more clearly.
Having no focus is great in Ancients. You have the freedom to explore and have fun with variety. I have a few areas I like, but I never restrict myself. I enjoy Ancient History, so I chase coins that interests me Historically. That is how I focus. I don’t collect coins for what I call as numismatic reasons: mints, styles, grades, etc. I go after coins or objects that represent significant events or eras in Human History. Makes it fun to me as to WHY a coin was issued. I feel that I can touch those times or events.
