I know I've shared this Athenian tetradrachm on here already but after sharing it on the r/AncientCoins subreddit, a few commenters were having their doubts about its authenticity, saying it doesn't look like real silver but rather a cast forgery, that its weight of 15.60 grams is too low, flan cracks too round, general lack of sharpness in corners, Athena's eye doesn't look right, pits that don't look like corrosion. Another commenter said that it looks like a legitimate mid-mass issue but heavily cleaned and corroded. I'm not really sure how to proceed with this coin, either leave it be or ask for a refund (I bought it from Ephesus Numismatics on VCoins)? Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm 454-404-BC Helmeted head of Athena right AθE, Owl standing right, facing, olive sprig and crescent behind Large test cut 15.60 g. 24 mm.
Do the commenters on reddit have more experience than Paul Landsberg and Tom Wood of Ephesus Numismatics?
Also, how is coin a cast with a test cut? The test cut would have had to been made after casting. The eye doesn't look right...what? So now it is not a cast of an authentic coin; but rather an engraver made a fake die with a wonky eye and struck a coin (before or after test cutting) and then decided to start casting examples rarther than striking them. Weights fluctuate for ancients coins. These coins were not weighed individually but rather they were struck at a certain amount per pound of metal. Though they they achieved remarkably consistent results, some coin will be over weight and some under weight. Having said all that I would not offer my opinion on authenticity (especially from a photo alone) as this type is outside my wheelhouse.
I'm not an expert on these but have handled quite a few of them. The weight alone isn't an issue for me. The surfaces are odd but these spent many years in the ground. That affects coins in different ways. Since you purchased it from a reputable dealer, I wouldn't be concerned.
I've thought about it and I believe I'll keep it. I like it the way it is and I trust that the dealer gave me an authentic piece.
These types are usually very consistent in weight (around 17.2 grams.) This one is unusually light and the surfaces look odd to me. But I don't have the expertise to offer much more of an opinion than that. Perhaps @Barry Murphy would be able to weigh in.
Looks OK to me? Though I've had some issues with human error (wrong coin shipped, etc.) with orders from Ephesus Numismatics, I can vouch for their trustworthiness. Good people. I've hung out for literally days at their table at the FUN show.
I don't know if the copper color on the photo is a result of the light when the picture was taken or if, in your hand, it's actually yellow. The surface of the coin shows marks of acid, it has been cleaned by electrolysis. If, in the same water, there was another AE coin being cleaned at the same time, a thin layer of copper may have been transfered on the owl's silver surface. I have seen this phenomenon. Judging just from your pics, of course, I see no obvious reason to doubt your owl's authenticity.
a better picture from the video https://www.reddit.com/r/AncientCoins/comments/1l95asm/video_of_athenian_tetradrachm_with_test_cut/
