Unknown Ancient Coin?

[macedung]

Any ideas on this coin. I have never seen a coin like this one. See attachment.  

[Tiberiusjulius]

Are you sure it's a coin? It looks like egyptian hiroglyphics.

[macedung]

Not sure at all. I have no clue what this is. This was given to me by my grandfather. He also gave me other coins too. See attachment for full list.

[Rich Beale]

They all look rather suspect. Even more so since they appear to be a 'set' of 'Egyptian', Roman, Greek and Medieval coinage. I think they are tourist fakes. Close-ups of the other coins would help.

[macedung]

Close up of Roman Coin.

[Dominicus]

Doesn't seem struck to me...too well centered on both sides, maybe a cast fantasy token.  The similarity in the aging/patina/oxidation on three of these (i.e. the token, the scottish, and the greek) is highly suspicious, and likely sample copies made by casting.
The 2nd one has a roman design that many on this forum will recognize and hopefully comment on.

[macedung]

Thanks for your replies. Hopefully all of them aren't fakes.

[macedung]

Close up of greek coin. Any suggestions? Possible fake?

[Will Hooton]

The Roman is a Legionary denarius of Marc Anthony. The greek an Attic Tetradrachm of Athens.  I share the same doubts about the authenticty, especially the 'Egyptian' one!

[Pscipio]

The tet is a cast, the denarius looks cast too, the Egyptian "thing" is certainly modern, too.

Lars

[macedung]

Yeah GaiusGCaligula that what I thought at first glance too. These coins will have to go in the black box. Im sure everyone has their own black box.

Thanks all for your replies, any more comments would also be welcome.

[NumisMatty]

Quite reasonable copies... 

[Manzikert]

Hi

I think the right two (and possibly the Mark Anthony) are part of a series of replicas given away by a medical firm in the 1960's(?): at least many years ago I had specimens of the Crusader gros and the Athenian tet that I was told were from this series (though I don't know what has happened to them!).

What the 'Egyptian' piece is I have no idea.

Best wishes

Alan

[areich]

... given away by a I am a spammer firm in the 1960's(?): ...

 

[macedung]

Thanks all for your replies. Everyone has been pretty helpful.

Going back to "I am a spammer firm" I do believe my Grandpa probably purchased these coins at some tourist shop in Europe back in the day. He was quite an avid coin collector. He collected mostly American coins but had somewhat of an interest in ancient coins. Knowing him, he  probably had a stash of "black box coins" just like the ones he gave me. Oh well, since Im a newbie collector this has given me some insight on how to spot fakes.


   

[Manzikert]

Hi Areich, macedung

I've no idea how those words got into the post: the phrase should have read (and I am certain I typed) '... given away by a I am a spammer firm ...

 : the strange things that happen in cyberspace.

Best wishes

Alan

[Dominicus]

Maybe you should try to s-p-e-l-l it or other clever device to avoid any transliteration that's happening by default in the forum after you post, now you got me curious.
Dominicus

[areich]

I think this is a recent thing, after the latest spammer attacks.

[Manzikert]

Hi

Yes, must be something that the board software puts in: it should be '... given away by a p-h-a-r-m-a-c-e-u-t-i-c-a-l firm ...', but of course we are all aware of one of the main p-h-a-r-m-a-c-e-u-t-i-c-a-l subjects of spam emails

Best wishes

Alan

[areich]

Which firm is this?
I know about the Sandoz coins but they were clearly marked.

[moonmoth]

Let me just try this to see if it's local or on Forum:

A I am a spammer firm.

[moonmoth]

OK!  I typed the word beginning with P, it looked fine locally, so it is definitely something on Forum which is changing what we type.  I'll report this on the admin thread.

[Luc Andre D]

If I'm not mistaken, on the egyptian one is written Imhotep (reed with legs = y, owl = m, altar = htp, with loaf = t and stool = p as phonetic complements - to indicate the sound value of sign above) and on the other side is a mastaba, the first type of pyramid, which Imhotep was the architect of. So it must be some sort of modern tourist token commemorating Imhotep.

[Benjamin Aho]

Islamic? Or an Egyptian tag. I don't know.

[PeterD]

OK!  I typed the word beginning with P, it looked fine locally, so it is definitely something on Forum which is changing what we type.  I'll report this on the admin thread.

I think you will find that it's intentional. We had the same problem (and quite a bit of hilarity!) a while ago when I used the words p-u-s-s-y cat.