While browsing auctions, which I shouldn't be doing, I ran across this gorgeous example that Steve and TIF might post. I attached a 'genuine' acsearch example below it. This 'Panticapaeum' just looks too perfect, although I can't see anything that screams it's not genuine---the details and surface conditions just superb and I would expect it to fetch between $300-$400 at auction. What do you all think?
I was looking at that coin this morning as well. That seller seems to come up with quite a few very high-grade specimens of Panticapaeum. Too good to be true? I've had the same reaction when I've seen some of his coins in the past, but I don't know what it means. Expertly tooled? Fake? I don't know these coins well enough to say anything even remotely authoritative. Personally I wouldn't buy a coin like that from an eBay seller. I would want CNG to give it their stamp of approval by listing it in one of their auctions. Or perhaps a certificate from David Sear. Perhaps someone else knows these issues well enough to make a determination, but it's not me.
Unfortunately, that statement defines me as well---despite all my efforts, I still seem to be fooled about half the time LOL And that e-Bay seller does appear to have quite a few 'excellent' offerings....which always makes me more than a little leery.
I've read somewhere that many of these Panticapaeum coins are modern fakes, but I can't see anything wrong with this coin. Here is my best example with a different reverse:
Comparing yours to the "authentic", there are many points that concern me. I think a comparison with many issues, (since they were large issues), would be more important. I do not know if my concerns are simply different styles or what. The OP coin looks "fragmented" in its style, something that could be caused by trying to simply copy and not portray the intent of the original, (if that makes any sense). Look at the nose. The authentic coin you can tell the type of nose they are portraying, the OP coin looks like a caricature of that.
I have followed this series closely since 2001. The simple fact is those coins often come in great shape. It is true, however, that many coins from Crimea (formerly in Ukraine) are expertly tooled and you must always look very closely at the surfaces for signs of tooling. It is also true that the silver of Panticipaeun is often well-faked and should be avoided unless you know what you are doing, but I think there is so much excellent genuine copper that fakes are not the same problem with copper. By the way, that seller is reputable. I am only sorry that this coin got posted here which will increase the interest in that particular item. I had already set a bid!
Sorry Val, I was only hoping to confirm that this seller offers genuine coins since I was interested in quite a few and wanted to purchase from him in the future... BTW--Good luck!! I'm already way passed my budget limits.
This is my first time posting anything regarding ancients. It is far from my interest and knowledge base. I have no idea of how the dies were created, but to me there are a lot of differences between the OP and the comparison example. To me I'd say it looks a lot like todays tribute coins. My opinion may be of little value, but the differences in details between the two is just enormous. I'm curious if each of the dies used are hand engraved back when they minted these.
Yes, all the dies were engraved by hand, so there will sometimes be considerable variance between two different sets of dies. Vetting the authenticity of ancient coins involves studying many examples of a particular type struck from different dies, in order to discern the general style of a particular issue. The variance in style between the two coins in the first post is actually quite small.
