Fake ancient - opinions?

tbirde56

Looks fake to me but most of what I know of ancients is from what I pick up here.
The guy that sent me the picture writes:

'i wanna sell my coin
my coin is rarist coin in whole world it refered to very old romans centary it is original gold coin in very good state carry constantine son picture with come gate it is very nice image
it is about 2cm in diameter i belife that this coin will need alot of money
i send picture in attach file i hope to find very good price'

Sounds like he's writing an Ebay description doesn't it?

coachleonard

it looks authentic to me-- but i'd say it's a bronze coin, not gold

STLNATS

The surface of the coin looks like it was cast (what looks like small holes/pockets all over the surface and the obverse legend looks rounded instead of sharp). Originals were stuck but sometimes you get the same effect if the coin was harshly/acid washed.

This is a very common bronze type of the period, I don't think it was struck in gold, but this is slightly later than the period I collect so am not certain. Best case, probably a gilt bronze coin worth $10 tops given the condition.

Just my 2 denarii!

spoon

Tell him you'll offer five dollars but you want a dollar credit for every misspelling in his blurb. You'll be rich!


Anyway, it looks like he already knows what it is. If he knows all that about the campgate, etc he knows enough to know it's not gold.


I really love this line: "i belife that this coin will need alot of money"

lordmarcovan

Eleven year old, or English as a second language? Hm.

Aethelred

My thoughts:

"my coin is rarist coin in whole world" - That is a very common type, I have owned more than one.

"carry constantine son picture" - This much is true, it is a Constantius II issued before AD 337.

"it is original gold coin in very good state" - It is a bronze AE3 that has been cleaned.

"i hope to find very good price" - You should be able to buy a nice original example in this grade for about $15.00, I would not pay more than about $2.00 for this one.

Danegeld

If I'm not mistaken it's a Constantinople City Commerative. The copper content in ancient gold varies GREATLY if it's real gold.

Ben

STLNATS

If I'm not mistaken it's a Constantinople City Commerative. The copper content in ancient gold varies GREATLY if it's real gold

This is indeed from the Constantinope mint but is not a Constantinopolis commemerative which have the helmeted head of the female representation of the city and the legend CONSTANTINOPOLIS paired with a couple of different reverses. In this case it is a dynastic type, pairing one of the heirs of Constantine with a reference to the army (a camp gate) on the reverse.

Also gold of this period was almost always very very pure, following the financial chaos of the 3rd century, and gold coins often traded as much by weight as by tale.....

Danegeld

<< <i>If I'm not mistaken it's a Constantinople City Commerative. The copper content in ancient gold varies GREATLY if it's real gold

This is indeed from the Constantinope mint but is not a Constantinopolis commemerative which have the helmeted head of the female representation of the city and the legend CONSTANTINOPOLIS paired with a couple of different reverses. In this case it is a dynastic type, pairing one of the heirs of Constantine with a reference to the army (a camp gate) on the reverse.

Also gold of this period was almost always very very pure, following the financial chaos of the 3rd century, and gold coins often traded as much by weight as by tale.....

>>



Cool, now I have a contact if I find something which I cannot figure out. LOL. You definately know your stuff

Ben

rhound1977

I don't like it....

trolling

It looks to be cast. The seller's English leaves a lot to be desired, so I guess English isn't his native language.