I bought this coin in the late seventies. I have always been a bit suspicious of it. I would like to hear what you guys think about it. I see no trace of a seam or filing on the edge. I cannot provide a weight since I don't the proper kind of scale. Opinions would be appreciated. Cilicia Tarsus 378-372 BC AR Stater BMC 35-36 Obv: Baaltar std r. Rev: Daames & Ana stg facing each other.
The overall look to me says it is a cast, especially when comparing it to this piece from Vcoins. https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/he...and_cappadocia_ar_stater/1175167/Default.aspx
I'm by far not an ancients expert but I enjoy looking at the posts. Need more CT expert advice but I like the coin thanks.
I agree with the earlier comment that it appears to be cast. It is why I have always been suspicious of it. I'm afraid I am not going to be able to any better. The image I posted was a scan of the coin with my printer. I don't do photography. I don't have a proper scale to weigh it. All I can add is that the coin is 23mm and the edge shows no sign of a seam or filing. I'm thinking about cleaning it, that the cast look may be due the crud on the coin. And if it is fake, I lose nothing by cleaning it. I would welcome suggestions about how to clean it.
I admire the ability of people to pronounce fake or real based on that photo. I would suggest doing nothing with the coin until you can show it in person to a specialist dealer in ancients. That may be months until coin shows resume. That does not mean someone whose first post here in the ancient section is to pronounce on this coin.
Please don't condemn it as fake or attempt to clean it just yet. I am not familiar with this coin type and I cannot say if it's authentic or not. However I see sharp details which makes me doubt at first sight if it's cast. The toning appears to be typical too, i.e. dark fields and bright devices. If it's a cast then there's probably a twin in a fake coin report somewhere. Anyone can share?
Some have suggested or asserted it is a fake. I have studied coins of Tarsus from that era and would have thought it is genuine. Of course, we are all only looking at a photo. Most tend to be close to 10.3 grams. If yours is far from that, say less than 9.7 or more than 11, I would have doubts about it.
I continue to maintain that no one can tell with no doubt that a coin is genuine just from a photo but it is quite possible to tell many fakes from even a terrible photo. This coin is not an obvious fake from what I see. The photo is terrible. The coin may be, too, but it is not time to destroy it.
