Hi guys--I've got another authenticity puzzle. I just got the coin below in the mail. It was described as: "Philip I AR Antoninianus. IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right / AEQVITAS AVGG, Aequitas standing left with scales & cornucopia. RIC 27b, RSC THIS COIN WAS HOLED IN ANCIENT TIMES AND HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED." I weighed it at 4.19. I would very much like it to be real because 1. I paid money for it and prefer to pay money for things that are real. 2. It's got a ton of character. I have doubts because of the semi-weak letters, especially on the reverse (could this just be the result of a worn reverse die?), and that weird looking G in the AVG on the obverse. I'm wondering if maybe somebody at some point, scraped the surface smooth and hit the bottom of that G? Thanks in advance!
some of the details look a bit soft, but the weight is good and i didn't see a match forum....so i'm not sure. how's the edge?
Here are a few pictures I just took of the edge.. I tried to rotate it all the way around, but I'm sure I didn't catch everything..
Hmm, I'm not liking it . To me it looks like a cast. Usual disclaimers: I am not an expert and it is difficult to reach a conclusion based on images.
Even though each die was hand cut, this portrait does not look right to me. Philip I portraits are fairly distinctive.
I had the same reaction as Bing---something's 'off' about that portrait... My antoninianus for comparison as well...
The portrait style does not bother me but the second edge picture shows a pretty certain seam. I'd not be able to accept it as real.
Thanks everybody! ..and thanks for sharing your Philips Bing and Mikey. I love that sharp jaw. Also, in the future please use more official numismatic terminology like faker-doodles, please. I'm disappointed but not entirely surprised (that's why I asked, after all). I'll get in touch with the seller and see about a return.
