Is this a good price for this coin?

I recently paid $2325 for this. I'd like to make sure its genuine, worth what I
paid, and maybe a history of the design. I was told by the dealer its a Philip
III Stater. I learned he was Alex's half mentally ill brother after he was
poisoned.

Obverse: http://j.imagehost.org/0704/DSCN5005.jpg

Reverse: http://i.imagehost.org/0566/DSCN5006.jpg

Thank you!

 

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Phillip II was Alexander's father. Phillip III was the half-brother who was mentally ill and may have been poisoned by Queen Olympias. Just to clear that up. Someone else will have to comment on the coin because ancient gold is out of my experience and price range.

 

Too nice to be true.... It looks questionable to me. You might want to take it around for other dealers to give you their opinions jcoin.

 

I would be concerned with the appearance of the fields. They seem to have the surface similar to cast coins. The hair arrangement at the back of the head also seems wrong, but a coin such as this should be certified anyway if there are doubts. The price may be a little on the high side for a raw coin.
It should weigh just about 8.5 grams, so try to get it weighed to at least get that parameter out of the way. Heritage had one in their last World coin auction, so you might go to www.HA.com and look in their archive. It is free, and a great reference and price comparison.

Welcome to the forum!

Jim

 

This.

 

I see nothing wrong with the coin based on photos. I would never pay that kind of money unless it was a good dealer which I assume it is. Did it come with attribution references? Do you know the weight?

These greek gold coins frequently come extremely well preserved, since gold does not react normally and as gold coins they didn't really circulate much, but were more stores of value.

Without looking it up, I would agree its probably Phillip II, Alexander's father who united all of Greece under his rule. These same coins are more common under Alexander in my experience, but Phillip is common as well, (as common as greek gold can be lol).

 

I don't see the problem with the fields really. As far as slabbing it, I don't think it adds value. Education is the key, as well as the guarantee of the dealer. I have seen false ancient coins slabbed as genuine or under the wrong authority. It really is hard based on photos, take the coin to another good dealer and ask his opinion.

$2325 for a gVF or XF stater is not bad. I have seen similar examples go for much more at an ancient auction. I payed $1200 10 years ago for a damaged stater of Alex from Babylon.

 

thx. i dont know what to think now. i am going to get the coin in the mail this week but i have no ancient dealers to show it to in my area. i will weigh it. i just dont want to send it to be graded and then the dealer just takes off from the face of the earth.

 

Who is the dealer? You could PM me or Doug Smith or others and ask an opinion of him. Most dealers are around for decades. Please do not worry until you see the coin in hand. I would like to see what the references are for it and compare photos. If I bought it, I would feel comfortable at this point. Looks like a gorgeous, rare coin. It would be the centerpiece of most collections.

Chris

 

AJ Coins outta Colorado.

 

I don't know them, sorry. Maybe others do. I was hoping you would say Frank Robinson, CNG, Berk, Pegasus, etc. lol. In ancients the dealer is important when you want to spend serious money. I always keep my purchases from certain dealers in their flip, or at least notate what auction I won it in and the lot number.

You could slab it if you have no way of knowing about them, or checking. Devid Sear has an authentication service as well, which I would respect more than a slab. He is at www.davidrsear.com. NGC is better now they have a new ancient manager.

 

In which city are they located?

 

not sure the city.

 

Looks to be located down in the Springs with you Hobo. I am pretty familiar with Denver, Grand Junction and Northern Colorado Dealers but not the Spring area.

Rob

 

Be sure to snap alot of pics when you get it (including the edges). and maybe posting it here as well www.forumancientcoins.com

edit: btw just peaking through vcoins.com , that price doesnt seem bad.

 

I mostly want to know if I paid too much, got a good deal, or paid the right amount on this piece. ty

 

The point of the responses you have had is that there is simply no way to judge what kind of deal you got without first determining both authenticity and condition.

Your question is comparable to saying "I bought a car for X dollars. Is it worth it?"

 

The coin is Price P34, Abydos mint, 323-317 BC. Heritage sold one in April for $1750 (below estimate). Yours is slightly better, but you still may have overpaid by one or two hundred. Honestly, if you're going to sweat over a hundred dollar difference, you should not be buying Greek gold.

As far as authenticity, you guys are jumping at shadows. Not only is there no reasonable evidence of casting in the photos, but the coin is a reverse die match to the one in the Heritage sale.

 

Odd world, Ardatirion.. That's the same coin. The dealer just confirmed it.

So he basically made a $325 profit on me.. lol

Link: http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=3009&Lot_No=20026&src=pr#Photo

 

I should have caught that. Its amazing what a difference a good photo makes.