When I first saw this and researched what it was, I didn't think I could get it within my budget but I was pleasantly surprised when the auction ended and I was high bidder! From what I've learned, dolphin coinage was made from 600 BC. to 300 BC. in Olbia Thrace (now Ukraine and Bulgaria) which was populated by Greek peoples. These coins were cast rather than struck and the reason for the odd shape was because the Black Sea was home to many bottlenose dolphins and there may also have been a religious significance to using the dolphins which were considered sacred fish by the Greeks. 27 X 8 mm; 1.64 grams
This one looks pretty good. Theres alot of affordable ones imo but usualy dont seem as nice as this one.
I thought they were pretty nice, too. Most were pretty rough and looked more like clumps of rusty metal. I bought these from the same dealer I've been buying from for the last month or so, so I feel confident that these are authentic and are just unusually nice. I'd like to get one with the lettering or symbols on it but I haven't found any that I liked.
For these the key besides condition is markings. Any of these with letters are worth considerably more than unmarked examples. I have a few of these but only one marked. Also, size is a consideration since it seems they might have had different denominations. How big is this one?
Nice additions. Ive thought about a lowball one for myself but they havent been high on the want list.
I've seen the ones with markings and they were either out of my price range or very rough. I'd like to find a nice example. Mine is tiny....27mm X 8 mm.
27mm long seems to be one of the smaller ones. I have these. The larger ones go about 40-50mm and are much more expensive, especially marked, as you say. To me they seem like different denominations, but it could just be different times or mints. Neat coin, great pickup! I get more notice from non collectors of these and Chinese spades and knives than I do regular coins.
I just realized I spoke as if I had two of these. I actually only purchased one. The pic just shows both sides. I must have been tired as I wrote the original copy! I paid around $35 for it, is that in the ballpark?
Yes. Other than the ones that have legend and sell for more, these price out according to how many dolphin features are shown. Nose, dorsal fin and eye add value. Yours lacks the eye bump but is strong in the other two areas and I'd say is worth every bit of your price.
Agreed, yours is a nice example. Frank Robinson has some cheaper examples but not as nice as yours. Btw, the tail is always missing since that is where they broke these cast coins off of the sprue. If you ever see one with a "tail" it is sprue material that wasn't filed away. Nice coin, and like I said make sure you show it to non collectors for a "gee, this is actually cool" reaction.
This is the kind of thing I like. I've gotten a number of people involved in coins and currency collecting by showing them unusual items. A neighbor who works next door to me was one of those "who'd-pay-$20-for-a-penny?!" types is now my competition on some auctions. What clinched it was seeing one of my error notes and the retained struck through cent. Now, he searches rolls and checks his till everyday. Kids are a lot more responsive to the oddities available in coin collecting. Some of the kids that got foreign coins from me last year are now going to shows to build their collections. Something like this dolphin coin is going to blow them away! Watch out for a new wave of collectors of ancient coins in the near future!
Other coins good for this is Chinese spades and knives, but be very careful of counterfeits. Chinese cash is always great to give aspiring collectors! I do this, but give it to them attributed.
