So I was poking around eBay looking for stuff that wasn't identified. This is what I found. These are the two best pictures. The seller isn't a coin person but he does take returns so I won't lose out if you all think it's fake. Please help your local idiot.
well should be a Tyre shekel, with Melquart, well it is not looking so bad, I had a worse one(fake), difficult but in most cases always to good to be true.
All of which, plus better pics will be posted when I get it. I figured it would be fake but with a 14 day return policy, all it would cost is a little shipping. Huge upside versus almost no downside is worth a shot. For what little my opinion matters, I thought the portrait is a little too ugly for a fake but maybe that's just how it's supposed to look.
Unfortunately, to me it appears to match some known fakes. Your coin, edited: From Forvm's Fakes Gallery:
Honestly, I would not buy from EBay unless slabbed or accompanied by a verifiable certificate from Sear, or from the verified EBay account of a well known major ancient coins dealer who has a brick and mortar store and a good reputation. EBay these days is 10% great deals, 10% OK deals, 50% rippoffs or scams, and 30% Chinese fakes of western products and collectibles.
Everything Sallent says is true of course, but it's not a gamble if the seller takes returns. Post good pics and dimensions when you get it, and we'll go from there. If you have to return it, you're only out a few bucks for postage. It can be a learning experience for all of us.
Unfortunately 100% positively a well known fake. Shekels of Tyre are so well known it is virtually impossible to find a genuine example described as "unidentified." Anyone savy enough to list it in eBay is smart enough to research it.
I spotted this same one on Ebay the other day and passed it by immediately. I know it can be hard for newer buyers, but aside from a known type it has the appearance of being cast (note the bubbles on his neck and chin). At least he takes returns. Last time I got a fake from Ebay (poor photo as well) he let me keep it (makes me think he knew it was fake).
A problem as I see it is that a fake coin on eBay is most likely going to sell to a person who will not realize it or be suspicious of why other people did not outbid him. A seller who does or does not know the coin was fake has more to gain by refunding the money and acting surprised when challenged. Few of us will go after a fake seller with a vengeance when they refunded our money and let us keep the coin. I feel like part of the problem here since the last fake I bought and received refund while being allowed to keep the coin was just put aside but not cataloged so I can't tell you who sold it. Have I bought from that seller again? I do not know. I lost $11 on a fake from a major dealer who joked later that the fake was worth that much. When he went out of the coin business, I celebrated.
True, beginners wont realize they have a fake until it is likely too late, thus giving the profit to the scammer. I'm not sure how much effort one should go through to expose sellers. It's impossible to always know if they knew it was fake or not or what their intent was. Regarding that $11 fake, you can PM me if you want to reveal the name. However, in a way I understand his position I suppose. It costs money to produce a fake (or replica). I used to have a nice collection of Slavei fakes, but I bought them when they were just a few dollars. They are now collectible in their own right and a collection of the sold this year (I think they averaged around $25-30 each).
Whoopee, I'm rich. I paid $4 each. http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/fake.html The same page shows the fake I mentioned but corrects me that it was $8 (memory lapse). The dealer sells guns now.
A good rule of thumb for ebay: If you can't see it, don't buy it. There are reasons the coins are too dark, too bright, too indistinct, or seemingly too cheap. The only cure is to look at a lot of coins over many years to prepare oneself. Sometimes making a bad buy is a good thing, for in the long run one will be prepared. Happy New Year.
