Athens Tetradrachm

[lucailmoro]

Please can anyone tell me more about this coin?
Authenticity, conservation, value? thank you very much

[awl]

The coin appears to be authentic. The cut reduces the value of the coin compared to one in the same condition without a cut. Many of these coins have cuts in them since this was done in ancient times to see the silver content. If the cut was either the owl or Athena the value would be reduced considerably more.

[lucailmoro]

The coin appears to be authentic. The cut reduces the value of the coin compared to one in the same condition without a cut. Many of these coins have cuts in them since this was done in ancient times to see the silver content. If the cut was either the owl or Athena the value would be reduced considerably more.

how much do you estimate its value?

[areich]

Probably a little less than you paid. 

But seriously, they are really common now but that is still a nice example. From what I've seen, maybe around $400 if
you're buying, less if you're selling.

Andreas

[lucailmoro]

Probably a little less than you paid. 

But seriously, they are really common now but that is still a nice example. From what I've seen, maybe around $400 if
you're buying, less if you're selling.

Andreas

  i payed a little less 
I don't have an intention to sell since i just bought it and i like.

[lucailmoro]

Probably a little less than you paid. 

But seriously, they are really common now but that is still a nice example. From what I've seen, maybe around $400 if
you're buying, less if you're selling.

Andreas

Why are they common now?
Thank u very much... it's a pleasure to participate to this forum,where i can learn a lot of things from you 

[areich]

A while ago, maybe it's been a year now, a gigantic hoard of these was found.
That's why every dealer has lots of them now.

Andreas

[lucailmoro]

A while ago, maybe it's been a year now, a gigantic hoard of these was found.
That's why every dealer has lots of them now.

Andreas

where?
planning to go on holiday just there
all invited

[areich]

I'm pretty sure you won't find much where those came from.

[lucailmoro]

I'm pretty sure you won't find much where those came from.

but you didn't tell me!
If you were so sure you would have told it 
i hope that wasn't a new bulgarian fake hoard!

[lucailmoro]

I knew it was very common in the past as a common currency accepted everywhere as Aristophanes reported.
So everywhere greeks went and traded in the world you could find with local currencies.

[Tiathena]

*
 
    Salve Augustus,
 
  “I don't have an intention to sell since i just bought it and i like.”
 
  &nd well you should.
  Test cut notwithstanding, it’s a lovely specimen of one of the most desirable coins of the ancient world.  The style of your Athena is lovely (I’m quite fond of the smiling, sumptuous lips of this style) – she’s pretty & dignified, as should be – the simplicity and grace of the engraving isn’t lost in the wear.
  The reverse is deserving of more than just ‘liking it’ too, as it still grandly displays all the elements of these wonderful dies; olive sprig, crescent moon, nicely engraved Owl – and complete lettering all in-tact, on the flan from the coin having been a nicely centered strike on both sides.
 
  Value..?
  Priceless….
 
  It’s treasurable.
  Congratulations.
 
  Best regards,
  Tia
 
*
 

[areich]

It may be more 'valuable' without the test cut but these add character and
this is the best place to have the cut.

And about this hoard, there was a thread a while ago where it was mentioned when and (perhaps) where it was found
but I can no longer find it.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Salem will know if anyone does.

[lucailmoro]

*
 
    Salve Augustus,
 
  “I don't have an intention to sell since i just bought it and i like.”
 
  &nd well you should.
  Test cut notwithstanding, it’s a lovely specimen of one of the most desirable coins of the ancient world.  The style of your Athena is lovely (I’m quite fond of the smiling, sumptuous lips of this style) – she’s pretty & dignified, as should be – the simplicity and grace of the engraving isn’t lost in the wear.
  The reverse is deserving of more than just ‘liking it’ too, as it still grandly displays all the elements of these wonderful dies; olive sprig, crescent moon, nicely engraved Owl – and complete lettering all in-tact, on the flan from the coin having been a nicely centered strike on both sides.
 
  Value..?
  Priceless….
 
  It’s treasurable.
  Congratulations.
 
  Best regards,
  Tia
 
*
 

Yes i agree... that was the reason i bought it....But as you know... there is a little difference between market and our heart... even if who buys a coin loves it... i am nearer to an "historic" collector than a collector of perfect coins. So i don't mind about values...
 Cut could add a little more historic fascination for example i think, in any case the place where it is done is less uncivil than the athena head.....  I knew cuts were done for testing the silver using a sword.
I would like to know more about these cuts and the why they were made...
Were they made by greeks.... it is quite strange that cuts were made sometimes on the head of a goddess i think.

[lucailmoro]

Could anyone explain to me why on all tetradrachms is written ΑΘΕ       and not ΑΘΗ  as the attic form for athens is  ?

[slokind]

Without looking it up anywhere: it was near the end of the 5th century that Athens, e.g., in monumental inscriptions, changed to Ionic spelling, using H for eta (previously for h).  I should think they retained the use of E for both eta and epsilion because, like the archaizing head of Athena, it was traditional.  Pat L.

[Dapsul]

It was in 403, under the archon Eukleides, when a politician named Archinos passed a law which ordered the use of the Ionian alphabet with H in Athens. That's why the epigraphists speak of pre-Euclidian and post-Euclidian Attic inscriptions. This became exemplary for most of the other mainland poleis so that in the 4th century nearly all began to use the H and the local scripts came out of use. As Pat said, the E on the Athens coins was traditional, like the Corinthians retained to use the Koppa on their coins.

Frank

[lucailmoro]

Thank you all....
So between 400 $ and priceless.... what the realistic price  ?
thanks again

[areich]

Exactly what you paid, obviously.

[Akropolis]

"So between 400 $ and priceless.... what the realistic price  ?

Compare:

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?radd=1&vpar=18&zpg=22900

PeteB

[Joe Sermarini]

Or compare with a few more...

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=66&pos=0#Greece%20Coins

[lucailmoro]

ok...so around 400.... thanks.
 so its grade is VF?

[Tiathena]

*
 
  I’d say aVF or VF – if for whatever reason forced to give such a ‘grading.’
  I no longer care a wit about such grades.  A coin is what it is.
  With photographs available for virtually every coin these days, those sort of grades seem all but meaningless.
 
  In times past, when buying from catalogues, etc where images weren’t available to see the coin(s) – such grades were very sensible & useful, so long as one trusted the one(s) who were doing the grading.
 
*
 

[Salem Alshdaifat]

Nice coin
regarding the hoard it was realy big, almost 6000 coins, their were three Decadrachms among it and almost %10 with no test cut, I managed to buy 1100 from it, but now the hoard is almost gone from the market and who knows when such a hoard will come back again??, it was found two years ago.
all the best
Salem