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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;robinjojo, post: 4224552, member: 110226&quot;]Finally, at least for this tread, here is a controversial coin.</p><p><br /></p><p>This coin was acquired a few years ago from a German dealer online.&nbsp; It is unusual to say the least.&nbsp; The design appears to have been patterned along the lines of an archaic Attica tetradrachm, a type that I have seen in catalogs as well as online. </p><p><br /></p><p>First, there is the face.&nbsp; The&nbsp; nose is not archaic, nor are the eyes, which are very unusual.&nbsp; Then there is the crest, again not archaic in style and quite crude, as is the entire coin.&nbsp; The centering is good.</p><p><br /></p><p>Second, there is the owl, which is very flat and crude.&nbsp; The &quot;A&quot; is rotated and missing the crossbar.&nbsp; There are raised edges and 12 and 3 o&#039;clock.&nbsp; The centering is off a bit to the left.</p><p><br /></p><p>Third,&nbsp; there is the flan, which weighs 16.95 grams.&nbsp; The width is 22.02 grams.&nbsp; The edges are pitted and cracked, indications that it was cast, as were all flans back then.&nbsp; The obverse and reverse appear to have been struck.</p><p><br /></p><p>Fourth, condition.&nbsp; The surfaces are somewhat granular and the coin has been cleaned.&nbsp; I&#039;d say the coin grades Fine overall.</p><p><br /></p><p>This coin appears no where in Seltman and its unusual characteristics precludes inclusion in that work.</p><p><br /></p><p>My opinion is that this coin is an imitation, probably Eastern.&nbsp; It is not one of the Bulgarian forgeries and the surfaces do show age, although I guess that could be faked with enough knowledge and effort.</p><p><br /></p><p>David Sear thinks this coin is a 19th-20th century fake, which is could be.&nbsp; But I think the fabric and condition of this coin indicates an older, contemporaneous origin dating to the 5th - mid 4th centuries BCE, of Eastern origin.</p><p><br /></p><p>I welcome any comments and opinions.&nbsp; Thank you.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1081235[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1081237[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1081239[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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