Help with Coin Identification

CaptainHowdy

My mother passed away 6 years ago and left me this ancient coin. She said it was very valuable and I think it’s made out of gold. Can anyone help me identify it? Thanks in advance.

Sapyx

Unfortunately, this is not a genuine ancient coin - it shows clear signs of having been cast, not struck. It probably isn't gold, but you'd need to get it tested.

I'm not sure which ancient coin the design is based on. It seems to combine elements from several coins; the grazing horse of Larissa (Greek coinage), while the standing figure gives off a "1st century Roman emperor" vibe.

It could be a Paduan (a mediaeval counterfeit), or a copy of one, though those normally have more inscriptions on them than this.

I know weighing it will prove difficult, with the attachment and all, but how big is it?

CaptainHowdy

Here’s the weight in ounces and i took a pic next to a quarter for scale

Sapyx

There are certainly no ancient gold coins that large and heavy.

CaptainHowdy

Thank you for the assessment. I'm a little disappointed since someone had my mother thinking this was a valuable old coin. I know she had been to Greece so I guess she may have got it there. Any thoughts on what the scribbled writing on the base might be? Thanks again for sharing your knowledge

RiveraFamilyCollect

You can ask your local pawn shop to acid test the material. 4 oz of gold is nothing to scoff at.

Greenstang

Doubt very much it is solid gold, maybe plated.
Someone is not going to drill into a solid gold piece to insert a post.
To me it looks like some kind of a tourist piece.

Sapyx

@CaptainHowdy said:
Any thoughts on what the scribbled writing on the base might be?

The black pen marks? If it's a relatively modern "art medal", as I suspect, perhaps it's the signature of the artist.

A Greek origin seems reasonable. In Greece it is illegal to sell to tourists or to export from Greece genuine ancient coins, but selling and exporting replica and fantasy coins like this is OK.