Hi again.. Just wondering how you folks identify ancient coins that are severely worn, where identifying mints marks and other criteria are so worn as to be indistinguishable. Do you just verify authenticity and call it a day... thank you
Do you have pictures? A lot of people here could probably give you some good places to start your searches based on pictures you provide.
I will soon... In transit.. one is for sure from amphipolis mint and the other is so severely worn that both sides just show a hint of it's former life...I will post photos as soon as I get it.
The only mark I can see which thins possibilities out are that the legs of Zeus are not crossed but side by side, this means it is possibly a lifetime issue or early posthumous issue.
https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=353760 You can compare thousands of images and may find some that look familiar. If you are planning of making a specialty out of these coins, that may be a good idea. Most of us will say it is a worn tetradrachm and be finished.
The style of the obverse bust of Alexander can often be used as a clue, but as @dougsmit suggested it will require comparing lots and lots of photos. I would recommend starting with coins of Pella and Amphipolis, his main Macedonian mints, and going on from there to cities like Tarsos and Arados. I am fairly certain the coin isn't from Babylon or the Egyptian mints. When control marks are all but worn away there is very little else to go on.
Excellent...I have fallen truly in love with these ancient coins...I am in awe just holding it in my hand...I find varying reactions when showing others the coin and telling that the you hold on your hand is over 2000 years old... Some people seem genuinely puzzled.. As if it can't be real... Others don't even seem phased, and then some react the way I do... It kind of makes me feel small... Not in bad way mind you... Just introspective... Thank you all for your feedback..
Proper attribution can be done with small amounts of detail. I cant see that detail in your photos but as you say you see something looking like a 'flame', which could be a torch, a control mark which was used prominently by the Amphipolis mint. So...yes, closer attributions are possible.
This is clearly a novice piece, yes? Do collectors buy pieces like this? ... At some point I will begin to invest in more detailed and expensive examples, as of now I will settle for crumbs, as they say... For me it is still a piece of history, regardless of condition... Thank you for your feedback..
Advanced collectors (or those with better financial resources) do not typically collect coins in this grade unless they are of great rarity (which this one likely is not, I dont know, I cant see anything on it). But if the coin makes you happy and gives you that connection to the past, well, then its priceless. Its still far older, rarer and more interesting that 99.9% of any modern coin.
