I've been working in Jordan for nearly 2 years and live in a valley near the historic Ancient Dead Sea. Just last week, I was taking a stroll near the natural Hot Springs which flow about 10 miles to the Dead Sea and came across this coin protruding out of the ground. It's silver, just over an inch across and has a Greek inscription EYOH(E) - KYMAL(O)N only on one side where there is a picture of a horse. The reverse side is the bust of a male which doesn't have anything written (see photo). The 'E' looks like a sideways 'M' and the 'O' looks like the Greek Omega symbol. I have been told that the coin dates back more than 2,000 years to the Ancient Greek ruler King Seleuces which has ruled the region and the inscription looks Greek but I've scoured through all databases to see any similar coins but to no avail. Can anyone provide any assistance?
Kyme, Aeolis. AR tetradrachm, stephanophoric type. Under magistrate Seuthes, BC 165-140. Unfortunately, I believe this one is a fake. I would be sure if I could see it in hand, but even from the picture, I would at best severely doubt its authenticity.
Thank you, but whether it's fake or not is irrelevant. Suffice to say, it took a lot of effort to forge and then to leave it lying in a ravine for somebody else to find says little about its likelihood to be a fake, but that's another story which doesn't matter. I'm just asking if there is anyone in the community who has some knowledge about Ancient Greek coins - or who can read and understand what it says, or can point me in the right direction to find out its origin. Cheers
Everything before where he stated that he thinks its a fake is what the coin would be identified as if real, so he already gave you the info you are looking for.
Thank you Ziggy9, but I've searched for Kyme, Aeolis. AR tetradrachm, stephanophoric type. Under magistrate Seuthes, BC 165-140 but it gives me no information to reference it to. Does anyone have a link which would identify this coin to the above?
I see some differences between the coin found in the ravine and the photo of the counterfeit that was posted. I'm curious what elements of the ravine coin stand out to identify it as fake. I'm out of my field with ancient Greek coinage. Thanks. Best wishes, Peter Anthony www.pandacollector.com
The OP's coin and the confirmed fake were struck from the same dies. There are no differences. The style on the obverse (particularly the eyes) struck me as strange. Also, that particular type of "toning" is very common on fake coins, but not usually seen on genuine ones.
The toning and texture looks to me like an old silver plated coin but some of lettering seems thicker than the sample. I'm not arguing it is real, just trying to understand how a counterfeit got this way so I can apply the knowledge to other coins. Thanks again. Peter
They aren't the same coin, but struck with the same dies. Thus the different toning. The "thicker letters" on the OP's coin are a result of "wear."
I don't know much about ancient coins, but on the portrait (obverse?) there is a space at the top of the headband on the known fake that is not present on the subject coin. Additionally the angle from the top of the forehead to the point of the nose are drastically different. Just my opinion, I would locate a specialist to have it authenicated.
You're partly right. The obverse die is different, I focused on the reverse, which IS a match. To get this coin authenticated would be a waste of money.
