Castulo (Linares) Jaen, 180 B.C., 12,85 g. 27 mm John Anthony tagged this the Dr. Zeus coin. Tooled no doubt, patina added perhaps? Whats real about this coin besides the money I paid for it?
Very cool, JBG ... I love these Castulo examples (on my wish-list => way up on top!!) Super-sweet eye appeal (congrats)
Not Zeus, lol. Suess. The funky sphynx reminds me of animals in Dr. Seuss books. Anyway, maybe I'm paranoid, but I see ruts around the legs and body, and it looks suspiciously like the coin was cleaned, tooled, and given an artificial desert patina. If it's any consolation, I bought a coin from the same dealer that I have the same suspicions about. I decided to keep it because I have no doubt it's authentic, and if it has been "improved," it was done subtly enough not to look distracting.
I really hope I'm wrong about both of our coins. I want to be wrong. I'd like it very much if some sage of numismatics would respond to this thread and tell me I'm completely and utterly wrong.
I don't think "All"the details have been re-engraved. The coin has obviously been worked on but there is a fine line between cleaning, conserving and tooling. Assuming the coin was from a reputable dealer I might be inclined to accept this amount of tooling and I don't like tooling. I really do think the coin was pretty good to begin with and a valiant effort was made to "improve" it.
I agree with Anoob, but I'm not the sage you're looking for. But while we wait, here is one of mine: IBERIAN AE As OBVERSE: Diademed male head right. REVERSE: Sphinx standing right, raising forepaw; star above paw, letter below Struck at Castulo Early 2d century BC 33mm, 25.3g CNH pg. 332, 9; Burgos 697
Also not a sage here (not even a Dr.), but nothing screams overt tooling to me about the coin. There are a variety of different engraving styles for this type. Here's one that I find very similar to yours: http://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=218446 And here's mine:
Hmm...the CNG coin has the same gutters around the legs. I wonder if it was something about the engraving style, or if the CNG coin was also enhanced.
They do look somewhat like gutters, but I wonder if it may be a combination of lighting in the photographs and how the dirt was cleaned around the devices that gives that impression.
The CNG coin has many similarities to my coin. With each post I get more comfortable with the authenticity (and probable enhancement) of my coin. Anoob's "fine line between cleaning, conserving and tooling" is a useful thought nugget for me. I love my Dr. Zeus/Suess coin maybe now more than before. I will impress my ancients club when I drop the "fine line" on them. It will be a great discussion as it has been here. I continue to be impressed with the high quality of thought so freely given in this forum.
