EID MAR Denarius

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I seen two in the British Museum yesterday, both great.

 

Hmmm, bacon and Eid Mar. Couldn't get much better than that!

 

Bacon and Eid is the best breakfast ever (with a nice mug of Assam tea)

Q

 

Well, it would be tough to choose between the two: bacon or Eid Mar. But, I suppose I would have to give up the bacon for an Eid Mar.

 

Now, that's an ancient forgery I would welcome with open arms. Fantastic addition!

 

Sadly, no longer...

 

That's correct - I sold it a handful of months ago. I really enjoyed it but ultimately I wasn't satisfied with the quality (centering, scratches, and metal) and also have been advised by many people that, for this issue in particular, I shouldn't settle for a non-pedigreed example. There have been a few small groups which have come to market and getting a pedigreed coin is much safer for all of the cultural property restrictions going on today.

Happily, as ancients go, it isn't "rare" and one only needs to wait to find a suitable coin. There's a chance I will regret the decision if more well-heeled US collectors enter the market and swipe up all of them at whatever price they want because of their prestige (I sold mine to a US collector for a healthy profit).

But, in the meantime, I have acquired a number of great coins with the funds which has allowed me to flesh out more of my collection, so I can't complain!

 

Should I have one someday they would have to grab it from my grasping dead body

Q

 

An ancient forger's die (?)
I saw this offered a few years ago and wondered if any coins known today match the die. It attracted one bidder and sold for 3000 euros. The punch does not match my coin. I think I would have made a test coin from the die and shown it on the auction page.

Reverse die (punch) for EID MAR denarius
An iron cylinder, diameter 17-19mm., height 118 mm., enclosing a reverse punch of Brutus' denarius; Cap of Liberty between two daggers, EID MAR below; all within dotted border.FE.
g. 159.2
Considerable oxidation, otherwise VF
Extremely interesting. An ancient forger's die (?) for Cr. 508/3. RRRR

https://www.deamoneta.com/auctions/view/148/170

 

An interesting piece that I would have just chalked up to a bad forgery, but the backstory gives me a bit of pause. It certainly isn't official based on any of them that I've seen, but could it contemporary or even ancient? I just don't know. If David Sear seemed to be convinced it was ancient that says something. How long ago did he see the coin...do you know?

 

I would want to see this in hand, because I also find it "extremely interesting."

I would expect the corrosion on the die surface would match the corrosion found on the entire die shaft. To my eye (using the photos from the website,) the die surface looks 'newer' than the the rest of the objects surface.

A microscope would also help.

 

I do not have any of the paperwork. I sent an email to Noble Numismatics asking if they had any paperwork on the coin. It will be interesting to see how / if they reply.
I have a friend in Houston who can analyze silver to ppm impurities. If I have the coin analyzed, I will report what we find.
I am working on what to say to David Sear. Do you think he keeps old files?

 

One easy test would be specific gravity which can be done in a few minutes at home if you've got a scale. Would be interesting to see the results and what sort of purity they suggest.

 

Yes, I'm pretty certain he does. Good luck!

 

Don’t change a thing, Lord Marc! Keep on doin’ watcha’ doin’!

 

I used the picture from Noble Numismatics in this collage of Eid Mar coins.
In your pictures, it looks like its made of gold