Hey CoinTalkers! So I don't even know if this is the correct sub to post in, as every thread seems to be really specific and professional, but I couldn't find a "Question" sub, so I'll ask here: Today I've found 4 coins in my long deceased grandpas room, while we were clearing it out. So this answers the question "Where did you get them". I can't ask him anymore, as you may notice. I'm clueless, and curious. I don't know if these coins are just fakes, if they're real, or if they're rare. That's why I'm asking you guys. I will provide close-up shots if needed, I'll answer everything. I have absolutely NO experience with coins, so please don't be too harsh if they're just toys. I'd love to see an answer!
You have two Byzantine coins, an Imperial Roman and what looks like a Greek coin. The Byzantine with an M on the back is likely Justinian or one of the emperors of that era (6th century A.D.) the other Byzantine has Christ on the obverse and the statement Jesus Christ, King of Kings, on the reverse, probably from the ninth or tenth centuries. I am not sure about the Imperial or the Greek.
The upper left coin appears to be a copy (not an authentic coin) of a "new style" Athens drachm (or tetradrachm, but it looks more like the drachms), depending on the size of your coin. What is the diameter of your coin? cropped and joined for ease of viewing: an example of what it is mimicking, from CNG's archives: drachm Edited to add that based on the relative sizes in your pictures, I think this "Athens" coin is probably tetradrachm-sized, which further condemns the coin since the design and style more closely resembles the drachms.
Check the green on your bronze coin to make sure it is not soft and powdery. If it is, you are going to have to treat the coin urgently for BD. I agree with the rest that the Greek in the upper left is a copy and the others appear to be genuine.
The bottom right coin is, if authentic (and I'm not sure what to think about this one but it might be authentic), a tetradrachm of Roman emperor Augustus, struck in Syria. What is its diameter? Here's an example of the type from CNG's archives: SYRIA, Seleucis and Pieria. Seleucia Pieria. Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 14.68 g, 12h). Dated CY 114 (AD 5/6). Laureate head right / Filleted thunderbolt set on pulvinar; ΙΔΡ (date) below; A to left, H to right; all within wreath. RPC I 4328; Prieur 1186. VF, minor porosity.
Oh wow, thanks a lot for the fast answers, I have nothing to do with coins but I already love everyone of you! I'm amazed by the fact that you get those informations in no time, I've been looking for hours, and the only clue was the big M, which led me to the byzantine empire, but that's all I could find. I've measured every coin now, a picture is attached. Of course it's not 1:1, as they differ in size because they're.. weirdly shaped. I already expected that at least one of them is fake, but it's still nice to look at.
This Byzantine coin of Anastatius looks believable to me both style and fabric... and because it appears to have bronze disease. You might want to search this site for information on what to do to slow down that corrosion because this coin is actually pretty nice compared to the usual from CNG's archives: Anastasius I. 491-518. Æ 40 Nummi – Follis (38mm, 18.86 g, 9h). Constantinople mint, 3rd officina. Struck 512-517. D N ANASTA SIVS PP AV, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Large M (denomination); star to left and right, cross above, Г below; CON. DOC type 23d var. (obv. legend); MIBE 27; SB 19. Good VF, brown patina. Struck on an oversized flan.
The second and third coins are Byzantines, and you have photographed them incorrect as their heads are down. Your second coin is a anonymous follis, meaning it has Jesus portrait: http://labarum.info/lbr/show.php?coin=18550 Your third coin is a 40 nummi, also knwon as follis. - Minted in Constantinople under the reign of Anastasius: http://labarum.info/lbr/show.php?coin=160 They both look genuine to me, and they are common. Edition: TIF was faster
Lastly, the Byzantine anonymous follis, to expand upon what Herberto said. It looks authentic to me but I'm not an authority on them (or on any coins, really, despite my often Hermione-esque opinions . Like Hermione though I do read extensively.): CNG example: ANONYMOUS. 1059-1067. Æ Follis (29mm, 9.21 gm). Class E. Constantinople mint. Nimbate facing bust of Christ, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels; double pellets in nimbus / Three line legend; + above, u below. DOC III class E; SB 1855. VF, brown and green patina. This CNG example is from 2004. Since I had to go so far back in their archives to find this "class E" follis, I wonder if they are rare compared to the others, which are generally common? Here is more information on these anonymous Christ folles: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Anonymous Follis
Sorry for the brief response (it can be tough catching up on a Monday, especially after the flu over the weekend). As for the Augustus, the general appearance is exactly as it should be for the type, and for other Syrian tetradrachms of the period in general composition, soil conditions, etc. You can check on various archive sites such as acsearch.info and get many comparisons. You will also note that there are a great many tetradrachms of Philip Philadelphos from a few decades earlier which have the same general patina, appearance, etc.
While I agree Grandpa's Athens tet is not good, it is wholly inappropriate to pronounce it fake compared to one genuine but very different coin. The best book I have on the subject (Svoronos) has 45 plates each with dozens of variations which he divides into groups. The earlier ones look a lot more like Grandpa's coin while the later ones are closer to Andres' example. We see relatively few of these first group New Styles and it is a shame that it is not something we comfortably can accept from the photo. The one below from CNG is closer to what Grandpa hoped he had. https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=264431 Everyone seems to want an Athenian tetradrachm. I like them, too, but I can't want just one. Many recognize Archaic, Transitional, Classical, Intermediate and New Style coins. However each of those groups can be subdivided into several sub-divisons and that is just for tetradrachms. There are many other denominations in silver, plenty of bronzes and even a few golds. A decent collection of Athenian coins would be several hundred coins.
..in other words, most here believe all the coins are authentic save for the Greek one, which could be, but is not of a style that my associates are used to seeing. best bet on that one is to send it off to a 3rd party for authentication, David Sear, NGC or the like, if you wish or want to know for sure.. and welcome to de club sniffles
With respect I completely disagree. It doesn't matter how many differing coins we compare the OP coin to, it still is a replica (or fake if you will). Everything about it is fake. I would argue that it is not our (or my) job to advise how a coin might possibly be real, but to answer as to how to is not (as situations require). I did not do so in my post above as to the OP coin. You can see a subsequent message has already been posted suggesting it could be genuine but perhaps should be submitted for authentication (which would result in unnecessary cost to the owner). That is a suggestion which would be quite negative for the owner, and unnecessary. We all know the coin is not genuine. I'm not here to advise on the authenticity of each and every coin posted, but as I like to participate I offer my opinions as occasion offers. I have taken the approach recently to offer a tad of information and let the poster try to glean what they can. Otherwise, I would be like Sear, and I would charge for my time and opinion!
