Help on this Copper Alexander the Great Coin is wanted.

Dear Masters,
My friend bought this copper coin on a local market.But we have doubts as we havent seen a copper Alexander coin.It is 30 mm in diameter and 24,5 gr in weight.I forgot to check if it is magnetic or not.Please tell me if it is fake or not ...

 

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As you noted, this style of Alexander the Great coin was not minted in bronze.

There is a somewhat similar (although somewhat smaller) bronze coin listed in Wildwinds as "ancient imitation". It is possible that yours is an ancient imitation but I suspect it is more likely a modern imitation.

 

At several points i observe the green patina has flaked of. Revealing a greyish metal below. This makes a modern imitation with also fake patina more likely i think.

 

=> well, although the Silver (AR) Tetradrachms can be as large as 30mm in diameter, their weights always seem to hover around the 17 grams range, so your 24.5 gram coin is doubtfully made of silver ...

I also searched around and found several "bronze" Alex III coins, but none that were this classic design and none that came close to matching your diameter and weight ... so either your friend has a "one-of-a-kind" priceless winner, or they've got a questionably-authentic coin on their hands ...

 

I agree with the others. Alexander made millions of copper coins, but never identical design to his tets like this piece is. This is an example of someone using fake dies and using them on the wrong metal.

 

So I will return it to the seller.