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Ancient Greek tetradrachm (Athena head / owl) - genuine or fake?
H. Kennedy:
Hello all.
I was wondering if someone might be able to help me ascertain whether this tetradrachm is genuine.
I bought it on eBay from a UK seller who assured me "it's been verified by an expert we have check all coins for us prior to purchase and sale." I noticed, however, that the pictures he posted on the auction profile for this particular coin belong to a different coin than the one he shipped. To be fair, both coins (the one used in the auction pictures, as well as the one he sent me) really are remarkably similar, the differences are rather minute, perhaps even negligible (they are mayhap from the same production batch?).
Hopefully, the pictures I took will be clear enough for you, but please, if anyone needs another, better picture of a certain element, or angle, please let me know and I'll post more pictures.
I know a virtual assessment is not ideal, but I'll gladly take it.
Diameter: 26mm
Weight: 17.8gr
Material: described as silver in the auction (I checked for iron with a neodymium magnet, and the magnet was inert)
Thank you so much in advance.
Din X:
It is an original neothracian replica made by Petar Petrov.
To dating, it is at least some hours old and can not be older than maybe 5 or 10 years.
https://www.etsy.com/de/listing/678843194/athen-attika-eule-massiv-silber?click_key=fafec8e6e8d7237a519d6518c1ec84c80332e68e%3A678843194&click_sum=437f81e9&ga_search_query=athen&ref=shop_items_search_4&frs=1
H. Kennedy:
Hi, Din X.
First of all, thank you so much for your swift reply. I have two questions:
1) How sure are we that this is the case? I.e., that this coin is not authentic and that it is based on this Petar Petrov version? I ask because, on the obverse, the head of Athena has a number of discrepancies compared to the picture you provided (the 3 flowers on top of the helmet, the thickness of the lines, the hair that is curved right below the helmet and above the eyes, etc.). The reverse, however, with the owl, is remarkably... identical? I would be hard-pressed to find a difference.
2) How did you know to find this exact model and type of replica? There is no irony here, the knowledge you guys have is just ridiculous. I'm very impressed. Especially in such a short amount of time. You had answered before I got back from the restroom.
And, well, a third question would be: should I include this coin in the Fake Coin Reports section? How do I know it is not already there? Even narrowing down the search, I still get so many hundreds of results.
Again, thank you so much for getting back to me.
Din X:
One reason why I collect ancient coins is because every anceint coins is unique already due to striking and different planchets and centering.
If you collect modern coins each looks identical, they are machine pressed on identical planchets. (for me it is boring).
The differences you see are most likely due to striking and different die states and pictures which can be misleading (depending on camera, camera settings, lumination, angle/axis of camera and so on).
Wear can make details look flater and so a little bit different, too.
You should rather look how many details they have in common and if hand cut dies can have so many identical details, answer is no.
I collect fake and authentic coins.
I have seen many of these fakes from same dies and artist already in the past and I own already one of these.
And I have pictures of several fakes from the same dies sold by fake or replica sellers.
The style, planchet, fabric and exact alloy composition is wrong.
Here are modern hand cut dies owl fakes from different artists and countries, only one is a transfer die fake (second row from above second left one).
Din X:
Some authentic owls from different times and emissions for comparison, I know that they are not really good but I need all my money for fakes and fake dies.
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