Well I just wanted to point it out just in case you were interested. Would you get one if it was guaranteed authentic by a reputable source?
Probably, even if I prefer the 'standard' coins or what we call coins. But knowing myself, I would still have doubts. I hate if when I am unsure about a coin. Last year I bought an Apollonia Pontica drachm, in a modest condition but I wanted an example in my album. There is still a 50-50 chance to be fake after I asked several experts, including here, and this is not something I want to repeat.
That’s understandable. I respect that. You don’t want to get screwed over after experiencing it in the past. As to the potential fake: Have you determined if it’s silver or not?
It is silver. But for some modern fakes this is irrelevant as all of them are silver and they are struck using archaic techniques. There is an entire industry of modern fakes. The discussion was here https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-suspicious-apollonia-drachm.372426/ In the meantime I have discussed with other people and the conclusion was that there is nothing certain. This is of course better than knowing for sure it is just a fake but..... I prefer sticking to areas I know better as this subject is very complex and I saw very experienced collectors (I have 6 months of ancient coins experience) stating that they simply avoid this type of coins, preferred by the fakes industry. But let's get back to oldies but goldies
Oh yeah I know being silver doesn’t mean it’s real. I’m just saying it’s 1 thing to look at. Have you considered sending it to NGC or PCGS? Yes I recently learned that they don’t guarantee authenticity but if it gets by their graders & slabbed you could have a better chance of selling that. I mean that would not really be fraud. As long as you don’t know it’s not fake. You’re just selling it stating that the experts at NGC think it’s real. Maybe just sell it slabbed if it’s worth the money of sending in? Then you could get your money back (or some of it) if it’s real and buy something you know is real.
The coin value does not justify sending it for grading. Especially for Europeans like me. About that drachm - I keep it in my collection. At least I am happy it is not a die match with a known fake. This means that nobody can state it is a fake. Frankly I am tempted to say there are 52.3% chances it is genuine I don't sell coins but when I will (and not in the near future) I will mention that I have doubts about its authenticity. What I wanted to point is that, personally, I will stick to coins I know better AND, for types of coins I want to learn about, I will choose ones that are not known to be preferred by forgers, such as Black Sea area coins.
Thrace Sarmatia - Olbia 5th C BCE AE Cast Dolphin 27mm 1.75g Thrace - Olbius AE Dolphin money Thrace - Olbius AE Dolphin money round ver BONUS: Chinese Fish Money China Zhou Dynasty 1046-256 BCE AE Fish Money 67mm 9.5g AB Coole Enc Chinese Coins 6920ff EX: @Ken Dorney
Speaking of fish money... My oldest and also my smallest: MYSIA. Kyzikos. EL 1/48 Stater, ca. 600-550 B.C. Hurter & Liewald-III, 3.3; von Fritze-I, 5. Obverse: Head of tunny fish left; Reverse: Incuse square punch. 5.5mm in diameter Non-collectors love this tiny coin, both for the cute size and the age (although from what I have read 600BC is probably pushing it). The bonus story about how people supposedly used to keep these little coins in their mouths (and perhaps this coin even accidently made its way through someone's digestive track ) instead of pockets is also a big hit.
My oldest coin from Syracus 422/421 Obv. Head of Arethusa 3/4 forward, with headband and ribbon bow Rev. Octopus 13,18 mm, 1.75 gr Giesecke, Silicia Numismatica, S. 34, 9a, Tfl. 10,15, Hunter 235, 210 Brett Catalogue Pl. 4 and Philipp II of Macedonia, AE19, uncertain mint, 6.02 gr, 17.96 mm. 359-336 BC. Obv: no legend, Head of Apollo right, wearing taenia Rev: ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ, Naked youth on horse prancing right, A below horse Ref.: L. Müller, die Münzen des thracischen Königs Lysimachus, Kopenhagen 1858
Panzerman, you and my bro are kind of twinning. Here's his oldest: 1/96th EL stater. Ionia. Here's my oldest: 1/12 stater. Ionia, Miletos. Ancient coins ftw! Erin
I think that is a AV Daric from the Persians who conquered Lydia. Cyrus the Great destroyed the Lydian army at Thymbra 546BC.