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Is this a real Alexander the Great?

coinhunter007coinhunter007 Posts: 54
in World & Ancient Coins Forum
The coin and the pendant are silver based on my testing kit.

image

image

Paid $90 for it in Europe. Thought it looked nice for a chain.

The Jalapeno pepper on the reverse does challenge me a bit.

Comments

  • coachleonardcoachleonard Posts: 995 ✭
    The hammered shape of the coin makes it look genuine...though in cases of really sharp looking (bold features) Greek silver coins, I am always cautious about authenticity. The reverse in particular has a genuine look about it. The obverse...I'm kinda on the fence.
  • coinhunter007coinhunter007 Posts: 54
    What would the name of this coin be and from what period?
  • coachleonardcoachleonard Posts: 995 ✭
    Looks to be a tetradrachma coin-- I haven't found an ID pic match of this silver coin yet, though i did see a pic of a bronze coin of Seleucid ruler Alexander II (ruled something like 129 B.C or so) with that type of reverse design. But I have seen that reverse design on other greek coins, so right now I can only roughly date it to the 2nd-1st century BC period.
  • determineddetermined Posts: 771 ✭✭✭


    << <i>... so right now I can only roughly date it to the 2nd-1st century BC period. >>



    I agree with your date. And it's definitely a Seleucid coin. And hence that is one of the Seleucid Kings on the obverse. But for sure it is not Alexander the Great.

    On the reverse is a Cornucopiae/Cornucopia. And it does say who the king is.

    From the reverse:

    Basileos = King

    Then I think I can read the name as: DEMETRIOS SOTER. But I'm not sure. It's hard to tell from the photo.

    See these examples:
    http://www.vcoins.com/gitbudnaumann/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=557

    http://www.vcoins.com/ancient/ancientimports/store/viewitem.asp?idProduct=18936


    coinhunter007, does the name on your reverse match the above examples? If so, you have your king and the rough date of your coin.

    I collect history in the form of coins.
  • LancastercoinLancastercoin Posts: 251
    I'm far from an expert on ancients, but it looks like a cast copy to me from the graininess of the surfaces. There are many excellent cast copies in jewelry pieces.
  • AutomanAutoman Posts: 85
    This coin is cast, as proven beyond any doubt by the lack of sharpness and the grainy surfaces. Also, for $90 you would not be able to buy an equally nice genuine specimen. Overall, it is rare to find genuine silver coins in jewelry. This notwithstanding, enjoy it for what it is!

    Auto
    A grade is an inadequate report of an inaccurate judgement by a biased and variable judge of the extent to which a coin corresponds to an undefinable level of an unattainable state of preservation. - Never tell me that grading is science.
  • determineddetermined Posts: 771 ✭✭✭


    << <i>This coin is cast, as proven beyond any doubt by the lack of sharpness and the grainy surfaces. Also, for $90 ... >>



    I thought it was just his blurry pictures. But I believe you're right.
    I collect history in the form of coins.
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