Is it real, and if so, has it been doctored?

Hi Folks!

There's an Indo-Greek Menander I drachm here that I am curious about. Here's the reverse:



And now here's the obverse



The weight is 2.43 grams. I do not yet have a catalogue of ancient coins to check it against, although I do have some books on order.

In terms of authenticity, what bothers me (as a very new ancients collector who still has so much to learn) are the "bumps" on the reverse. I have seen many online images of coins of this type, and I don't remember seeing these bumps on any of them. At first thought, I was afraid they might be bronze bubbles coming through the surface, in which case the coin would be a fake.

But the regular placement of those bumps to me suggests they are not bronze bubbles, and that they might be connected with the obverse legends somehow. Or perhaps they represent lightening sparks? Or some kind of die-carving mistake? I really don't understand them at all.

My second question relates to the toning. Do you think the toning has been artificially and intentionally added, or is it the result of happenstance?

Many thanks in advance to anyone who cares to weigh in an enlighten a toddler-ancient-coin collector! (I'm promoting myself from "baby ancient coin collector" now!)

All the best, Nathan

 

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UPFRONT DISCLAIMER: I am a brand-new collector myself.

The bumps on the back do make me take pause, however, the flow marks on the obverse legend lead me to believe that this is a struck coin and not cast.

Here's another coin with similar bumps(and toning)...


Perhaps that ought to put you at ease, until an actual expert can chime in.

EDIT: FWIW, 2.44g +/-.05 seems to be the avg weight on these.

 

I can see your concern about the raised spots on the reverse. The coin appears to have been struck, and the weight is good. The toning seems to be from storage in a paper envelope, possibly manila. That type of paper can cause colorful toning over time.

I think your coin is a good one, but I don't know much about this type.

Do you know this seller on eBay?

 

doesnt look good to me , looks like they used torch or somethign to create the look for light toning around the edge , but i could be wrong ..

 

this pictures more likely from Heritage Auction

 

The circular bump trail is seen on more, relatively good quality, Menander coins. Likely these served as guiding tracks for the engravers who made the coins.
Compare for example with the one in this thread: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/indogreek-menander-read-between-the-lines.259189

 

The 'bumps' are nothing to worry about, the coin is 2200 years old, corrosion occurs, probably from some impurity metals in the coin. It are corrosion products forming at the grain boundaries under the surface, and it results in raised surface grains. Atleast that is what I remember from back in university when I was working on solid-state inorganic chemistry.

 

I'd say that the coin is likely genuine. It has been struck and the dots on the reverse were to guide the engraver for the lettering. The toning is likely from being stored in a paper envelope. Agree with the poster above that the photo looks like it came from a Heritage Auctions photo.

 

Coin looks fine to me. A very nice example.

 

Thank you very much, Herodotus! I feel much better after having seen the coin in your example. Nice coin and nice pic, by the way.

 

Thank you, Robinjojo! I agree with you that the toning could have come from storage in a paper envelope; I have actually seen that kind of brilliant, coloured toning in such circumstances with (ahem!--I know I'm not supposed to mention this) modern coins.

The coin is indeed offered by a seller on eBay. The seller does not primarily deal in ancients, but he does seem very trustworthy.

 

Thanks, Kolyan. The blowtorch thing was exactly my first thought, too.

 

Thank you very much, THCoins! That is an excellent thread for me to have read and seen. I agree with your amusing reconstruction of a conversation between mint workers, there, too. I think this is the best explanation for the bumps, and it makes much sense.

 

it is genuine coin and more likely natural toning