Guys, I know a number of you fall on the anti-tomb side, but I really felt I needed to get a few coins slabbed for protection/investment. I was very pleased with 4 of the grades (Vespasian Judea Capta came back as a VF* 5/5 4/5). More on that later if you like. I had one open slot on my "free" order and tossed in an old coin from Panticapaeum with a sturgeon and lion on it. I was always fond of it since it was one of my first ancients about 10 years ago. I attributed it as Sear 1701, but NGC body-bagged it and called it "Authenticity unverifiable." Thoughts on that term? I've read a bunch of various opinions, but I'm still not sure if that mean they think it could be fake or they simply can't attribute it? It took them about 6 weeks to process these. Also, does NGC dip ancients for any reason? The coin was a beautiful dark chocolate brown when it went in, but is has a slightly green tint to it now. I didn't spend a ton of time on the photos --
wow, snewman => that coin is gorgeous!! (absolutely delicious lookin' patina!!) Yah, that baby is soooo pretty that I'll overlook the slab thingy ... it certainly looks okay to me (oh but sorry, I don't have any experience with NGC) Ummm, I also have a PAN example, but my version has a gryphon, rather than a cool lion ... Cimmerian Bosporus, Pantikapaion 400-300 BC Pan & Griffin
I would be interested in knowing if NGC has authenticated any coin of this type or if they are taking a pass on the type. I do not have one of these without the countermarks but know there have been large numbers of them on the market for quite a while now but have not heard suggestions that they were fakes. Anything from this part of the world carries a little extra suspicion just because we have seen so many 'creative' issues from there.
Thats a good looking coin. Not really sure why NGC would body bag it, in either case you just have to look at it as its their opinion. With opinion the key word, if there is nothing wrong with the coin then its authentic.
I disagree. There are coins that are certainly authentic and coins that are certainly fake but there are also those that would be sent to ten different 'experts' and get some 'votes' each way. I would love to know whole story here but this coin is a lot like some politicians here in Virginia who did not admit guilt but entered an 'Alford' plea: that there was enough evidence to convict them of their crimes. Real or fake, this slab suggests that we should add this type to the ones we watch very closely and buy at risk. I own coins that I do not feel 100% confident about even though I bought them from experts and honest dealers. I did not, before now, know that all my Pantikapaions should be on that list. Is there anything 'wrong' with this coin? It will never be sold openly again without a question. Whose word would I accept over NGC? I hope to see someone at Baltimore on March 28 that I can ask for the rest of this story.
I decided to look around for NGC certified coins like this. This is almost the exact same coin, but comes in just over 6g where mine is almost 8g at the same diameter. Perhaps that was bothering them and they didn't have a history of weight fluctuations? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ancient-Gre...C-Certified-Ch-FX-Lion-Sturgeon-/121492364518
