I need your thoughts please!

Congrats! You did much better with that than the original coin you posted.

 

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Sellers have been issuing their own certificates, testimonials, declarations and pronouncements of authenticity probably going back to when coin collecting began. The issuing of these pieces of paper do not lend legitimacy, unless it was issued by a renowned authority, nor are they necessarily red flags. Fundamentally it all comes down to the coin, the seller's reputation and one's ability to formulate an objective opinion about any given coin, and that comes down to one's level of knowledge, something that takes years of purchases, most good, some pretty bad, to develop.

Yes, although I don't do much with 4th century Roman bronzes, $165 does seem high, but then we are in a market populated by folks with money to spend, and do so seemingly at the drop of a hat.

I would hold back on buy that coin, bide my time, and look for something comparable at a much lower price.

 

Welcome to the Ancients Forum, Mikenwuf

 

Thanks so much for comment robinjojo, yes, I realize now that I have a long way to go before knowing my coins that well. It's also one reason I'm afraid to post some of my purchases, I would hate to have someone tell me it's a fake! I do listen and read this daily so I am learning a lot and really aprreciate the knowledge once again that this group has to offer me. Thanks, Mike.

 

Thanks so much Deacon Ray, I'm really enjoying it. You all are great, a appreciate everything I'm hearing and learning.

 

It's a nice coin @Mikenwuf.
According to numismatics.org it is RIC VII, 39 you can see it here:
http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.7.cyz.39

I got mine in 2020 from Frank for $50; however, right now prices are kind of crazy...

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I understand your hesitancy to post coins, but that is really an essential part of the learning process. This forum is an excellent source of information that can guide you and increase your knowledge. I've had similar feelings at times, and I have some fakes in the collection to be sure!

I guess it all comes down to your comfort zone. As you read some of the excellent threads here in the ancients forum, perhaps you will post more of your coins in the future. They are always welcome.

 

I do not believe in saying a coin is genuine only from seeing a photo but it is often possible to say it is a fake from even a poor photo. Being hesitant to post a coin is not really a good move since you are much better off knowing that you have a fake than thinking the coin is good and buying more just like it. Still, there are some coins that I suspect could be fake but am not sure. If the 'genuine' value of the coin is equal to or less than the cost of a TPG opinion there is not a lot to do other than showing it and gathering opinions. Unfortunately, we here will not always agree on the status of every coin posted and we have, on occasion, all been wrong. Fakes come in a thousand degrees of ease of detection. I hate to see good coins posted here with replies that scream fake without good explanation but seeing, handling and occasionally buying fakes is part of the hobby. If that is intolerable, you might need a different hobby. Education can be expensive. Posting here might not be as educational as an NGC slab but it can be educational at a value greater than its price.

My image (shown here many times) shows coins that each have a reason for being shown here (from issued by a usurper to made to fool a modern tourist). It is not just being able to pick out the 'real' from the 'fake' but being able to explain how you came to that decision. Not all less than fully official coins are equal. It is like when your math teacher insisted on you showing your work. The answer is important but understanding how that answer was reached is much better. Most people would accept between one and seven of these items as worth collecting as long as the 'situation' is noted.
click to enlarge:

 

I think the coin presented by @Mikenwuf is 28 not 39.
39 has mintmark SMKA•
28 has SMKA without dot.

 

you are right @ambr0zie - thank you very much for the correction

 

I hope I didn't bother you with the correction - but our new colleague needs to understand the subtle differences when attributing a coin.
I still get head aches from this kind of differences, not to mention the draped/ draped and cuirassed/ laureate, draped and cuirassed/ seen from front, back etc.

 

not at all, I'm always grateful for any corrections and I would love to get much more of them always learning