I received this coin in the mail today and absolutely fell in love with it. I've been looking for an affordable Egyptian drachm with an Elpis reverse for for a long, long time. I was elated until I closely examined the edges of the coin. I bought this from Vcoins. What do you think is going on with the edges? Would you return it? Click on images
The coin was struck on a flan cast in a tapered cup shaped depression so the obverse diameter is smaller than the reverse. Yours has been filed to make it round but the color suggests that the filing was recent (last century). I see no reason to doubt the authenticity of the coin but believe the seller should describe that situation and reduce the price. It is a nice coin but you might have trouble selling it to someone who believes that any filing on the edges is evil.
The edges are perfectly fine. These flans were cast, and then the edges were filed in order to trim them before striking. Edit: I see that Doug thinks the filing is recent, but I don't see why anyone would do that. It doesn't raise any alarm bells in my book. I've seen many Egyptian bronzes that have exactly the same character and this coin seems no different.
Thank you, I greatly appreciate the different opinions/perspectives. It did occur to me right away that the edges could affect resale value down the road. I paid $60. for the coin which I thought was pretty good. It's quite a chunk at 33mm and 26.1 grams. Looks better in the hand than in my flatly lit flash photos. Wish more sellers would show edges!
I am far from an expert but if the filing wasn't recent and was done during contemporary (ancient) times, wouldn't the filed edge match the other half of the edge of the coin in terms of patina and oxidation? I feel it is a pretty nice coin regardless, by the way.
Yes, and perhaps Doug is right, as some raw bronze is showing through on the devices as well, along with scratches. This coin may have received what numismatists call a "brick cleaning." Someone finds a crusty coin in the wild and scrapes it against a stone to clean off the dirt. It's a shame, but it happens.
My thoughts exactly. I don't see it as a bad buy at $60. Pre-20th century people filed edges to make them fit the round holes in their cabinets. The same guys filled in the centration dimples on some Provincials and other nefarious activities.
Thanks guys. This one tied my brain in a knot. I feel better about the coin and I am inclined to keep it now, and I've gained some valuable knowledge in the process. It's not like I don't have other coins with flaws like filed down sprues, over smoothing, and repatination. The bottom line is that I love the coin despite it's flaws.
It probably goes without saying that collectors of ancient coins have to deal with far many more flaws than collectors of moderns. You level up when you love coins because of their flaws! At any rate, I agree with you - that's a great drachm, definitely a keeper.
I would call that a good deal on a killer looking coin. The edge filing does not affect the devices at all, I would just enjoy it. John
Welcome to CT, @Macromius. That's a A-Pi drachm has plenty of eye appeal and I think you scored it at a nice price. I wouldn't have a problem with it at all were it in my collection. Here's Elpis on a billon tetradrachm. ANTONINUS PIUS Billon Tetradrachm. 13.81g, 24mm. EGYPT, Alexandria, RY 11 = AD 147/8. Dattari-Savio pl. 111, 8160 (this coin); Emmett 1383.11; RPC Online 13607 (21 spec., this coin cited). O: Laureate bust right. R: L ENDEKATOV, Elpis standing left, lifting hem of skirt and holding flower. Ex Robert L. Grover Collection of Roman-Egyptian Coinage, previously held by the Art Institute of Chicago (1981.511); Ex Giovanni Dattari Collection (1853-1923) And my A-Pi drachm of the moment. ANTONINUS PIUS AE Drachm. 'Zodiac Series'. 24.39g, 35mm. EGYPT, Alexandria, RY 8 = AD 144/5. Emmett 1530; Dattari 2968; RPC Online 13547 (31 spec). O: Laureate head right. R: Sun in Leo: Lion (Leo) running right, radiate and draped bust of Helios and star above; L H below.
