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Author Topic: Fake Agathokles of Bactria  (Read 1252 times)

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Offline n.igma

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Fake Agathokles of Bactria
« on: November 15, 2020, 05:42:28 am »
This from a (formerly) highly reputed British numismatic dealer auction closing late November:

Auctioneer's Description
Greek Coins, Greco-Baktrian Kingdom, Agathocles (c. 185-170 BC), AR tetradrachm, control mark Merv, diademed head of the deified Euthydemus I to right, citing younger Diodotus whose title is given as Theos, rev. Heracles seated to left, on a rock holding a club in right hand, wt. 14.55g (Mitchiner 1683/145), fine to very fine, rare

Wrong weight, appallingly childish style, extremely unnatural surfaces and misspelled obverse legend!

Easy to trash your reputation with this sort of offering!
All historical inquiry is contingent and provisional, and our own prejudices will in due course come under scrutiny by our successors.

Offline Molinari

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Re: Fake Agathokles of Bactria
« Reply #1 on: November 15, 2020, 07:27:54 am »
Wow.  It looks ridiculous.

Offline djmacdo

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Re: Fake Agathokles of Bactria
« Reply #2 on: November 15, 2020, 07:40:36 am »
Terrible!

Offline okidoki

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Re: Fake Agathokles of Bactria
« Reply #3 on: November 15, 2020, 07:57:31 am »
I wonder if they will withdraw it, i mailed them about a fake Hadrian and they left it in auction
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Offline Dominic T

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Re: Fake Agathokles of Bactria
« Reply #4 on: November 15, 2020, 09:02:28 am »
Maybe why they are not on a hurry to withdraw : "If either [    ] Auctions or the seller withdraws the goods, [        ]will charge the seller a fee equal to 20% of the reserve or, if no reserve has been agreed at that time, 20% of the estimated value, together with any applicable VAT and storage, handling and administrative charges and other expenses as set out in Section 3."
DT

Offline Anaximander

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Re: Fake Agathokles of Bactria
« Reply #5 on: November 15, 2020, 10:47:22 am »
Thanks for calling this one out.  A tetradrachm, esp. one that's uncommon, can attract the novice collector. 
There are some ancient imitations of Bactrian coins. The most common I've seen are for Hermaios.   

Offline Joe Sermarini

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Re: Fake Agathokles of Bactria
« Reply #6 on: November 15, 2020, 01:29:31 pm »
Joseph Sermarini
Owner, President
FORVM ANCIENT COINS

Offline Heliodromus

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Re: Fake Agathokles of Bactria
« Reply #7 on: November 15, 2020, 02:07:43 pm »
Quote from: okidoki on November 15, 2020, 07:57:31 am
I wonder if they will withdraw it, i mailed them about a fake Hadrian and they left it in auction

Apparently there's a practice by some less scrupulous auction houses to buy in identified fakes rather than admit the mistake and withdraw them.

Mentioned here at 4:15

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhvHb59Me4Y

Incidently, Berk black cabinet also available to download here:

https://issuu.com/hjb-ancientcoins/docs/harlan_j._berk__ltd._black_cabinet_

Ben

Offline n.igma

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All historical inquiry is contingent and provisional, and our own prejudices will in due course come under scrutiny by our successors.

Offline n.igma

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Re: Fake Agathokles of Bactria
« Reply #9 on: November 15, 2020, 08:50:00 pm »
Incidently, Berk black cabinet also available to download here:

https://issuu.com/hjb-ancientcoins/docs/harlan_j._berk__ltd._black_cabinet_

Very useful reference. Thanks.
All historical inquiry is contingent and provisional, and our own prejudices will in due course come under scrutiny by our successors.

Offline Joe Sermarini

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Re: Fake Agathokles of Bactria
« Reply #10 on: November 17, 2020, 10:06:15 pm »
Thanks n.igma.
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Offline Dominic T

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Re: Fake Agathokles of Bactria
« Reply #11 on: November 19, 2020, 06:45:10 pm »
By the way, the coin is now described as " contemporary "barbaric" imitation"...
This is what we call the power of FORVM !
DT

Offline Joe Sermarini

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Re: Fake Agathokles of Bactria
« Reply #12 on: November 19, 2020, 08:54:17 pm »
By the way, the coin is now described as " contemporary "barbaric" imitation"...
This is what we call the power of FORVM !
DT

NOT!!!
Joseph Sermarini
Owner, President
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