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Author Topic: What to do with a ring mounted Kushan Dinar?  (Read 1980 times)

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Offline RL

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What to do with a ring mounted Kushan Dinar?
« on: December 14, 2017, 07:53:09 pm »
Dear all,

I'm rather excited by this early Christmas present (from myself to myself) but could use your collective wisdom!

First, is anyone able to express an opinion on whether or not the coin is genuine?  The question is based on my inexperience with the type rather than any particular concerns, as while I have a number of Kushan coins I have never handled ancient gold before so it is hard for me to judge. It's worn, but in hand there is nothing that screams at me that this might be fake. Of course, I may be missing some signs obvious to more experienced collectors.

To the extent that it helps, I acquired it from a local antique dealer who I have dealt with on several occasions in the past. He specializes in estate sales of, for the most part, good quality modern (19th-20th C) items, and occasionally picks up antiquities and ancient coins as part of these. He's not an antiquities/coin specialist though, and, while I have never seen him selling anything that I think is fake, occasionally he misdescribes things. He made no representations about this item however other than it being an ancient bronze ring and giving it's provenance back to its previous owner. The point being that the seller doesn't create any cause for alarm but isn't a guarantee of authenticity either.

I am quite sure the dealer is right that the mount is bronze. I haven't tested it chemically but there is a slight tarnish on the inside of the ring and the old finger rub test results in a strong bronze smell. The coin, however, is not tarnished and rubbing it doesn't leave any odor (nb there is a small amount of dirt/dust in the detail of the coin, it's not tarnishing. Unfortunately, the silvery patches inside some of the lettering and in large blobs at the bottom of the coin appear to be solder or similar - in any case, whatever it is it appears to be sitting on top of the surface of the coin and to be firmly attached).

The second question is the curly one. Now that I have it, what should I do with it?  ??? ???

As a coin collector, the thought of a coin "trapped" as jewelry doesn't sit well with me and I was originally contemplating taking this to a conservator or jeweler and seeing if they can separate the coin from the mount. Additionally, to the best of my knowledge, there are two different reverse types associated with this obverse (Shiva standing left eg https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1996509 or Siva & Bull Nandi eg https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=351209), and I really want to know which this is! (Plus I have no idea how I'm going to store it as a ring!).

Now I have it in hand, however, I am less sure. It is quite well attached to the mount. I don't know how one would go about separating the coin and the ring, but I don't want it to be damaged by the process (although as I say above if I were to decide to separate them I would get a specialist to look at it rather than tackle it myself). I guess cost of restoration would be another factor (I have no idea), but I also have no idea what the condition of the reverse is (it could be a slug for all I know) so I suppose it could turn out to be a rather expensive way to acquire what might end up being a low-quality coin! And while I have no idea when the coin was mounted on the ring, now that it is, it is part of its history, so as much as I would like to liberate the coin, it does feel a little sacrilegious to take it apart.

What would you do?

Kind regards

RL


Offline Kamnaskires

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Re: What to do with a ring mounted Kushan Dinar?
« Reply #1 on: December 14, 2017, 09:09:47 pm »
Interesting timing...Just yesterday I saw this one online, from a seller in Thailand, listed for $12.  Different mounting, but quite similar.




Offline Kamnaskires

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Re: What to do with a ring mounted Kushan Dinar?
« Reply #2 on: December 14, 2017, 09:14:07 pm »
By the way that same Thai seller has another Kushan ring for sale - this one for $14, with a mounting that is longer, but similar, to yours:

Offline RL

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Re: What to do with a ring mounted Kushan Dinar?
« Reply #3 on: December 14, 2017, 09:18:03 pm »
Well that's not promising!

Offline Kamnaskires

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Re: What to do with a ring mounted Kushan Dinar?
« Reply #4 on: December 14, 2017, 09:21:26 pm »
Yeah, I'd have to agree.

Offline Joe Sermarini

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Re: What to do with a ring mounted Kushan Dinar?
« Reply #5 on: December 14, 2017, 09:56:18 pm »
I don't think any of them actually contain coins.  They were just made to look like coins.
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Offline RL

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Re: What to do with a ring mounted Kushan Dinar?
« Reply #6 on: December 14, 2017, 10:25:28 pm »
The one I have clearly has something "coin" shaped soldered onto the ring (there is a join visible and at one point a small gap in the solder where you can see space under the "coin", although I guess it's entirely possible that it's blank on the reverse).

Regardless, I'm guessing they are both casts from the same source given the identical "wear" and position of lettering etc is in the same spot.

Disappointing, as I said in the first post I was quite excited! O well, time to try to get a refund I suppose...

Offline RL

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Re: What to do with a ring mounted Kushan Dinar?
« Reply #7 on: December 15, 2017, 04:04:12 am »
After showing the dealer the eBay listing Robert found he agreed that the one sold to me is likely fake and has agreed to refund the purchase price.

I have file fake coin reports.

Robert, thank you very much for your sharp eyes!

The dealer didn’t want the ring back. I guess it will make a good stocking filler for one of my boys at least!

Offline peterpil19

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Re: What to do with a ring mounted Kushan Dinar?
« Reply #8 on: December 15, 2017, 05:12:12 pm »
Hi RL,

I am very sorry to hear this, but at least you get a chance to buy yourself another gift! That is the great benefit of buying gifts for yourself. This time, buy yourself a gold Kushan coin which does not have a ring attached. I am sure you will find that they are reasonably affordable in reasonable grades.

If he did not take it back to you then presumably it is not gold, or at most, gold plated? If it were a gold coin, then the price you paid should have been no less than the bullion value of the coin. That is a good sense check also when buying gold coins.

Peter

 

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