Paphlagonia, Sinope. AR Drachm. Nymph / Sea Eagle On Dolphin. https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/he...ph__sea_eagle_on_dolphin/1332028/Default.aspx Is it a fouree? Does it have a bronze core?
Thank you very much!I have no ideea, the coin has no description, i was just curious to check it , maybe buy it, but couldn't tell more atm!
Please take into consideration that this coin has a bronze core, Paul. It looks like an ancient counterfeit to me.
I agree. No other reason really to have copper corrosion on a silver coin. These usually are struck in good silver.
Thank you very much again, I thought it would be an interesting coin, but my total involvement with world crowns means I am very prone to buying ancient fake/fouree coins.
It does seem that this city had a lot of problems with counterfeiting. Many we see have a test cut. Some are solid, some were test cut for good reason. Does anyone have a coin with no cut? They do exist but we also see lots like this one: https://cngcoins.com/Lot.aspx?LOT_I...1&SEARCH_IN_CONTAINER_TYPE_ID_4=1&VIEW_TYPE=0
There are several different meanings of "fake." One is "modern fake." These are worthless. There are also "contemporary fakes" or "ancient fakes." These circulated during more or less the same times as genuine examples. While not as valuable as the genuine coin they imitate, they are often of interest to collectors and can command a good price. A fouree is an ancient fake: usually bronze with a thin silver coating and made to pass for a silver denarius or tetradrachm. This is what the OP appears to be. There were also barbarous imitations that were not intended to fool anyone but were used to facilitate trade in areas where official coinage was scarce. Some of these are of little interest, but many, especially Celtic imitations of AR tetradrachms, can be quite beautiful and are highly prized by many collectors.
If indeed a fouree, it is still an interesting piece of history; being of the same age as official civic coinage. It also likely circulated along with its genuine counterparts, and as such; still served as currency for some time. It also may be considered as a culprit as to why so many genuine coins of this type are found to have been test cut.
An ancient Fake....a "local" copy of an official coin in good silver and weight close to official style, thus classed as an imitation. Sometimes they can reveal secrets like this coin's obverse which is mated with 3 different NewStyle reverses!
