Well, I bought this thing yesterday, thinking it might be an early post archaic style coin. But I think I am out $18...Nice toner though for 2,500 years NOT !!! Traci :computer: opions welcome !!!
Since you are convinced the coin is no good, perhaps you should return it to the seller or donate it to a charity (Ancient Coins for Education would appreciate it, I suspect). You might first choose to research it a bit. You are a bit off on the date but that is understandable since the vast majority of coins this late have legends. Start with this suggestion: Anonymous (86 BC) Apollo/Jupiter in Quadriga BMC 2622; Sydenham 723; Crawford 350A/2; Seaby, Roman Silver Coins (vol. 1) 226 The coin is a fine example of the practice of flan adjustment gouging before striking which makes it (a) ugly and (b) cheaper. This issue seems to have 'suffered' this practice more often than some. Certainly you can never say that something would never be faked but faking a flan adjusted coin could be termed 'odd' since it cuts into the profits by at least 75% compared to a normal coin most people would prefer. My hat is off to the faker who knows enough to be able to fake this vastly disrespected technical oddity. A decent, mid grade specimen without the gouge still is $100. I'd place a gouged and overcleaned one like yours at a bit more than you paid. I paid $16 for mine in 2002. Yours is nicer because the flan is wide enough to show the thunderbolt under Apollo while mine has a smaller flan. The ones listed below are all super grade so they are worth more. http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?search=syd+723&view_mode=1&cac=1&cng=1&fac=1#2 Were you burned? I doubt it but we never authenticate anything from poor photos.
Thanks Doug.....I never had an ancient Roman with this style before. Sometimes, one just gets lucky and stumbles into a new variety. Traci :bigeyes: Very Happy "Felicitas"