Ancient walked in today...what is it?

I purchased this coin today...I know it is silver and looks authentic.. I didn't pay a lot on it because I am always worried about ancients. What is this guy. I believe it is greek and a tetradrachm.. Let me know what you guys think.. Randy, stainless and others... what do you guys think... Tom

 

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Well, that would be a shekel of Tyre or half shekel depending on the size and weight. The shekel or tetradrachm is about 14 grams and 28mm and the half shekel or didrachm is about 7 grams and 20mm. But I would not vouch for its authenticity (sorry!).

The inscription is "ΤΥΡΟΥ ΙΕΡΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΣΥΛΟΥ" which means "of Tyre the holy and inviolable". The date would be in the left field on the reverse above the club, but I cannot make it out. They were minted between 126 BCE and 70 CE and the later ones have a KP under the palm on the reverse that is on the eagle's wing, but again, I can't make that out for sure. (Some say that the KP indicates that it was minted in Jerusalem.)

I hope this helps.

-Daniel

 

It does help, what would something like this be worth???

 

See the Silver Tetradrachm of Tyre, 76-75BC here
http://www.usask.ca/antiquities/coins/syria_east.html

 

Well, again, if it is authentic, then I usually see them sell for about $300-$400 in this condition.

I have a shekel and half shekel but not in the same condition as yours. Do you know which one your is? Can you measure or weigh it?

I have attached the photos of mine (the half shekel is the first photo).

-Daniel

 

a beauty

 

I can weigh it at the shop. Don't have the scale at home. I went through the wildwinds pics for a little bit but my head was hurting from so many darn types. It is for sure silver.

 

Nice coin Tdec! very nice shekal. I can't say whether it is authentic or not, as I have very little experience with obvserving these (it's not roman..lol).

Nice coin though:kewl:


stainless

 

Fake, unfortunately.

 

Looks like it has been painted which shouldn't happen to a real one

Q

 

Why do you say that it is a counterfiet? It is not painted and I tested the metallic content with my gold/silver/plat kit at the shop.

 

It did not look authentic to me as well, but I did not want to condemn it outright. That is why I was so circumspect. I am sorry.

It is hard (for me) to say exactly what looks wrong. The style looks off, and the lettering should be much more sharp. The key items on the reverse that I mentioned, especially the date, with a coin in this condition - you should be able to read them clearly, but to me, they look like metallic blobs. That does not see right to me.

-Daniel

 

Tom, here is a good way to tell....does the legend on the reverse look like it was worn down, or does it look like a weak strike?

stainless

 

Two things that bother me: the general graininess of the fields and the defined rims.

 

It looks like a weak strike and the pictures i took really didn't represent what it looks like in hand very well. There is a considerable amount of wear on the higher points.

 

K, I am not going to call it either real or fake. I would, howver, be sceptic though, as the details are off, IMO.


stainless

 

I really appreciate all of your knowledge and insight on this coin!!!

 

I still believe this is authentic, it weighs out good and measures with the calipers.

 

My immediate gut feeling seeing the coin in the OP was "it's a fake".

That does not mean it really is a fake, but you should have it authenticated at some point, at least before selling it.

I am suspicious because there are a lot of counterfeited Tyre shekels.
Take a look at some of them here:
http://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/thumbnails.php?album=20&page=12

Tyre shekels are coins that should be bought only from reliable ancient coins experts, in my opinion.

Sorry for the bad news.....:stooge:

 

Hey folks!

Here is a pic of my Shekel... According to what i read, PCGS will authenticate these Shekels. Not sure if they do for any other ancients, but its nice peace of mind when your buying an ancient and dont quite know the marks to determine a fake or not...