Alexander Tetradrachm - Real? Worth It?

Whatisthiscoin

Hi everyone.

Here's another puzzler. Trying to decide whether to pounce on this one. Seller says: It is 16.8 grams
25.36 mm diameter and 4.72 mm thickness

Says he got it from Heritage Auctions - as an early posthumous. That seems to be what I came to as well, although I can't find the exact Price number. If anyone knows, let me know.

I can get it for just under 300$ , uncertified. He says he will guarantee authenticity. In that regard, it is only the pitted surface on the obverse that worries me. Otherwise, I just want to get a sense of whether the price is right.

What do you all think?

tcollects

kinda looks like sea salvage and graffiti from the images

Whatisthiscoin

@tcollects said:
kinda looks like sea salvage and graffiti from the images

I was thinking saltwater could explain the dimples. Having a harder time quantifying the value - seems like auction prices are generally through the roof though...

tcollects

@Whatisthiscoin said:

@tcollects said:
kinda looks like sea salvage and graffiti from the images

I was thinking saltwater could explain the dimples. Having a harder time quantifying the value - seems like auction prices are generally through the roof though...

I imagine most collectors wouldn't want it - usually better to pass on problem coins or buy really cheap

if I looked at that in hand and convinced myself it's not a cast fake, seems like at $100 it would be hard to lose money on

Whatisthiscoin

@tcollects said:

@Whatisthiscoin said:

@tcollects said:
kinda looks like sea salvage and graffiti from the images

I was thinking saltwater could explain the dimples. Having a harder time quantifying the value - seems like auction prices are generally through the roof though...

I imagine most collectors wouldn't want it - usually better to pass on problem coins or buy really cheap

if I looked at that in hand and convinced myself it's not a cast fake, seems like at $100 it would be hard to lose money on

That is very good advice thank you!

AuldFartte

I would have to thoroughly examine the edge. If it appears to have a rather uniform "seam" (even a faint one) around it, I would call it a cast fake. But, as has been said previously, seawater could account for the pitted surface.

291fifth

If in doubt ... pass.

Swampboy

That looks fake to me
The edge, the portrait, the porosity all raise red flags IMO

KOYNGUY

Looks like a genuine Amphipolis issue to me. Weight suggests it is not a casting. J.P.

Sapyx

I see this coin has divided opinion.

For my own observations, the pitting looks more like corrosion damage than casting evidence to me. I'd pay US$300 for it, if I didn't already have an Alexander tet I was happy with.

Whatisthiscoin

@Sapyx said:
I see this coin has divided opinion.

For my own observations, the pitting looks more like corrosion damage than casting evidence to me. I'd pay US$300 for it, if I didn't already have an Alexander tet I was happy with.

Man, divided is an understatement! Now I really don't know what to do...

Zohar

7Jaguars

OK, I give up I'll vote for Zohar's!
Seriously the OP coin also struck (ha ha) me as legit but environmental corrosion damage. IMHO, it is still attractive.