Please posto your Otho and opinion

Circling back to the words often posted and attributed first to Joe over on Forvm: "Either know the coin or know the seller." When it comes to expensive coins like Otho, we really might be better off knowing both. The other option is to do what I previously did not recommend: Send the thing off to be slabbed by NGC or certified by David Sear unless you are both a little comfortable with the coin and very comfortable with the seller. We used to call this technique 'belt and suspenders' but it does keep you from being caught with your pants down.

 

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I would have to agree it looks cast to me.

I do have an Otho tetradrachm but thought I'd rather post this Vespasian with Otho like features...including the wig!

 

I lack the expertise to comment on your Otho. And my mediocre coin photos probably argue that I lack the expertise to talk about photography as well. But that won’t stop me.

I think a “poor man’s“ methodology of getting that “floating“ look is to photograph the coin 1) resting on a clear glass pane, or 2) elevated in some fashion, rendering a blurry background and sharply focused foreground. Attached is an image showing the general idea, quickly done with my cell phone. The apparatus I use is an empty CD or DVD spindle.

 

I had to do some detective work on one but had found the other sellers info in my purchases. I bought the 1st one from: numismatica_roma. And the 2nd was purchased from: theod2011. Both were purchased on eBay. The good news is neither seller was on the fakes database you sent. The bad is it looks like one of them is no longer a seller. Have you had dealings with either? And out of curiosity, of one was decided a fake, what could I do 9 months later to try and get refunded? As always thanks for your time and knowledge.

 

Beautiful setup! I'd have to save up for a bit, but wouldn't call it overkill. The quality speaks for itself. For now I may have to wait for an upgrade with my phone to get that S8. Thanks for the help and the FANTASTIC pictures!

 

I googled them + supposedly theod2011 sold a lot of fakes,
a post from 2015 that says ALL of theod2011's listings were fakes.

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/CoinForgeryDiscussionList/conversations/messages/35126

https://www.facebook.com/JacksonJacobsFamilyNumismatics/posts/900507463344485
"almost all, if not all, of the silver coins are forgeries. (E.g. Every current Clodius Albinus Denarius has the same reverse, tooled to create minor modifications. Many other coins appear tooled to hide signs of cast forgery). "


numismatica_roma, from his sold coin listings seems to have sold mostly genuine coins with a few maybe suspect..
https://www.ebay.com/usr/numismatica_roma

 

The way I read your post you think my photos were taken with the S8. The coins were taken with the rig shown and the camera shown. Buy an S8 if you want a phone. Buy a camera if you want coin pictures. Mine is a Canon. There are others that are also good.

 

2nd coin is definitely a fake It is a perfect match to this coin

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Roman-Impe...=item3d53f174e0:g:9xYAAOSwa8dZ17E8&rmvSB=true

 

Wow! Thank you so much for posting that. The sellers name even starts with "theo" probably the same "theo2011" that it was bought from a year ago. Now that it's been this long and the old account is closed do I have any recourse to get my money back?

 

Haha! I missed this post earlier and like the analogy...though it feels like I've been caught with my trousers down and kicked in the groan. As I have one coin that looks fake and another that certifiably is and am lacking in the 2good eyes (or just 1bit of common sense) to have avoided this expensive pitfall. But assuredly do appreciate all the advice and insights.

 

Vespasian should have awarded that engraver with a gold laurel wreath. What hair!

 

Most likely your chances of a refund are slim to none. But heck, why not try? Did you use Paypal? If so, you can ask paypal to intervene or Ebay. But again, I think it's been too long unless there was was a written lifetime guarantee. It won't hurt to ask.

 

Bring this thread back to life!

I finally purchase an Otho denarius, it is a very welcome addition to my collection.


STRUCK JAN-APR 69AD. OBV. BARE HEAD RIGHT, "IMP M OTHO [CESA]R AVG TR P". REV SECURITAS STNDS LEFT WITH WREATH AND SCEPTRE 'SECVRITAS P R'. SEAR 2163; RIC 10; RSC 15;


I did have a provincial in my collection already, but this one makes for a nice upgrade.

My provincial:


NOT LISTED. OTHO. AE22 OR AE24? ANTIOCH AD ORONTEM, SYRIA. IMP M OTHO AVG, LAUREATE HEAD RIGHT. REV. SC WITHIN WREATH OF EIGHT LAUREL LEAVES. RPC 4319. GIC. 687

 

I have a provincial of the same type:


IMP M OTHO CAE AVG - laureate head of Otho right / large S C within laurel wreath. Bronze As or 4 Chalkoi (?), Antiochia ad Orentes, AD 69 24,76 mm / 9,28 gr RPC 4319 and pl. 164 (6 specimens cited); McAlee (The Coins of Roman Antioch) 323; BMCG p. 177, 213

 

Ya, but yours is way nicer! Mine looks like it came out of pile of rusty sand.

 

My Provincial Otho..

Otho, Ruled Jan 15-Apr 16, 69 AD
AE28, Syria, Antioch Mint
Obverse: CAE AVG IMP M OTHO, laureate head right.
Reverse: Large SC within laurel wreath of eight leaves, fastened at top with pellet.