Hi, I bought an ancient coin that just arrived today. I'm naturally suspicious of everything I buy online, especially if I feel like I got a good price on it, and from the photos on the listing it looked authentic. I'm...really not an ancient coins expert. In fact, I know exactly zilch about ancient coins except that they're old, so I'm curious if anybody could help me out here. This is the coin I bought: From the pictures I posted, does it look real? It looks alright to me, but I honestly have no idea how to tell. In-hand it feels pretty heavy (I don't have a scale here, but I have one in the lab I can weigh it on). It's 22-23mm wide, and around 1.5mm thick at the rim. Can anybody help me out? What indicators should I look for on coins like this for authenticity? Thanks in advance!
Its real. Flow lines around the legends are a good indicator. But sometimes you cant go by that. Philip I (244 - 249 A.D.) O: IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, from behind. R: LIBERALITAS AVGG II, Liberalitas standing left, counting board in right, cornucopia in left. RIC IV 38b, RSC IV 87 SRCV III 8937
Yep. You will find antinoninuous' of Philip to be the second most common silver Roman coin, after Gordian III. Both are available in nice silver and high grade at a reasonable cost. If you had posted something like a Nero or Gaius silver you bought cheap I would be more suspicious, but a Philip is to be expected. Still, you got an authentic silver Roman coin in nice grade. Who doesn't love that!
Sweet! The flow lines were actually something that had me worried a little - I wasn't sure if something over 1500 years old could have those lines visible, haha. Good to know, though, since I'd like to get more ancient silver in the future. Thanks!
