Thanks, but you have 30 posts and I'm not sure how credible you are on the subject. I've seen Alexander the Greats go for this price. I ask for a second opinion please. Thanks again though.
I see nothing wrong with the coins as shown in the images AND Lanz is one of the big names in ancient coins so catching them selling bad coins would be quite newsworthy.
Often the number of posts has no relation to the experience and knowledge of the person. There are known authors and writers for numismatic publications on the forum who have many fewer postings than myself, and yet much greater specific knowledge. Conversely, there are members who may have thousands and profess none. A diverse forum. One can always just say thanks, I am trying to get several opinions. jim
it wasn't only his post count, but his opinion on the Owl seeming "suspect". That's why I'm here asking for another opinion because they seem real to me.
I suspect that less than 1% of the Forum's members are Ancient collectors. But eventually they will come around, so be patient. Also with the continuing upgrading of the site's software, and the Holiday weekend, many are off line. My manners were lacking a little as I didn't welcome you to the forum, SO Welcome to the Forum! Jim
I would have said the same about the Owl at 1st glance it seemed too nice to be true but as Doug says Lanz do have quite a good rep (Assuming it is the Lanz who run the auctions)
I get a little humor out of that owl being termed too good to be true. There are a million owl tetradrachms and they include many that make this one look very ordinary. The price on these varies extremely since there are several points of comparison that work against each other. First is date and style. Collectors prize some of the mid 5th century 'transitional' coins to the point that they sell for several times a commom Peloponnesian war coin. These have beautiful style and the owl's tail shows three separate feathers rather than one unified prong. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=392292 Even the common coins vary in style but centering seems to make more difference. The dies were much too large for the flans. I knew one specialist that would not even look at a coin where the nose or chin touched the edge of the flan. Big money is paid for coins that show all or most of the crest on the helmet. These are nice ones: http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=14521 http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=38052 Wear is not a big problem since these were trade coins and many never circulated spending much of their time in a jar with a thousand just like them. EF examples are not hard to find. Some of us like owls with personality and Athena should have a Mona Lisa smile. Coins that fit all these characteristics bring a lot of money. Collectors like me feel lucky to afford a worn coin with a test cut that doesn't completely wreck the thing. I've never owned an owl tetradrachm without a cut and probably never will.
It was not in any way meant to be humrouse, the point is there are simply so many of them around that are forged Doug that when one sees it in such good condition you can be hessitent (not only can but should). Now If as in this case the dealer is reputable all well and good but let us say it was a new dealer on ebay would you be happy to take it as real on 1st glance of a photo? i know I woudnt
