[ancients] Help-- is this owl tet a fouree??

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by TIF, Oct 8, 2013.

  1. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    I may have goofed big time.

    Bought this from CNG in August-- for a friend who asked me to pick out a selection of ancient coins. I don't know much about the series, hadn't bought one for myself, but I thought it was a nice classic type to include in his set.

    I really hadn't looked at it until today when I was gathering all the coins for his pile.

    It looks mighty suspect. I understand that there were some 'official' fouree, the emergency issues, but if the attribution is correct this shouldn't be one of them.

    Here is the coin as pictured by CNG:
    [​IMG]
    ATTICA, Athens. Circa 454-404 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 17.21 g, 8h). Helmeted head of Athena right / Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; SNG Copenhagen 31. VF, lightly toned, thin stress cracks on obverse.
    From the Demetrios Armounta Collection.

    Here are some USB microscope pictures I just took. What do you think?
    OwlTetEdge1e.jpg OwlTetEdge2e.jpg OwlTetEdge4e.jpg
     
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  3. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

  4. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    In some of the cracks, the metal looks like old crystallized silver but in some it looks more like base metal. Hope I'm wrong.
     
  5. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    From my perspective it does not look like base metal, but rather, as you put it, crystalized silver. I am certainly not an expert at these, but this one looks genuine to my untrained eye.
     
    Last edited: Oct 8, 2013
    TIF likes this.
  6. AncientJoe

    AncientJoe Well-Known Member

    That looks legitimate to me, just crystallization as mentioned. Nice pictures, by the way!
     
    TIF likes this.
  7. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    Thanks for the reassurance, guys. [whew]
     
  8. randygeki

    randygeki Coin Collector

    I agree about the crystallization. The weight looks normal. Did you weigh it?
     
  9. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    Didn't weigh it-- the little button battery in my scale died, will be a few days before I can find a replacement. Diameter is the same as stated in the seller's description. Assuming the weight is also as stated, that is reassuring.
     
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