Please help I.D. greek coin.

Fronkey776

My girlfriend's dad sent me on a hunt to see if I can find out what this coin is. I did some research and I think it is an "Alexander the Great silver Tetradrachm." However, I'm not sure if this is right or what kind it is. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!




Trevor

determined

It is supposed to be a tetradrachm of Lysimachus. Lysimachus was a general, and then wanna be successor, of Alexander the Great.

The Greek on the coin translates to King Lysimachus. And the portrait on the tetradrachm coins of Lysimachus is Alexander.

Sorry, but the rough surfaces and soft details of your coin say it is a cast fake to me. What's the weight of your coin? Knowing that can be conclusive.

Here's one of mine to show you what the surfaces and details should look like -



For example, see how the headband (the Diadem) at the back of the head is almost missing on your's compared to mine. That is because the fake casting process loses details.

DorkGirl

Great lesson, thanks.

DorkGirl

Oh, and Fronkey776

Fronkey776

Thanks a lot for your help.

I wasn't sure if it having some different details made it a different coin. For example, there seems to be some sort of star in between the legs of the woman on the back and the crown on the front goes below the ear rather than above it. As for it being fake, I don't think he would mind as he found it in his grandfather's old stuff and it serves as sentimental value.

I'm not sure the weight of the coin, but I can weigh it this weekend. Is there a specific weight it should be?

Again, thanks a lot for the help and I appreciate the warm welcome too.

Take care,

Trevor

Andres

The star is the macedonian sun of Vergina , looks like its on a shield.
meaning it suppose to be have minted in Pella or Amphipolis, I never seen one before under a throne.

Since greek coins were minted at that timeperiod in the whole greek empire , there are many variations with different mintplaces and under different local rulers.(satrapen)
Alexander is wearing the horns of Ammon , instead of the more common lion scalp.

The back shows the goddess Pallas Athena with in her hand another goddess Niké , she stands for Victory.
On The shield of Pallas is the chop offed head of Medusa , which would change her foes in stone.

tetradrachmes of this period dont have a specific weight , but a more or less weight.
first you tell us how much your coin weighs, and then we tell you , if its OK

Fronkey776

<< <i>The star is the macedonian sun of Vergina , looks like its on a shield.
meaning it suppose to be have minted in Pella or Amphipolis, I never seen one before under a throne.

Since greek coins were minted at that timeperiod in the whole greek empire , there are many variations with different mintplaces and under different local rulers.(satrapen)
Alexander is wearing the horns of Ammon , instead of the more common lion scalp.

The back shows the goddess Pallas Athena with in her hand another goddess Niké , she stands for Victory.
On The shield of Pallas is the chop offed head of Medusa , which would change her foes in stone.

tetradrachmes of this period dont have a specific weight , but a more or less weight.
first you tell us how much your coin weighs, and then we tell you , if its OK >>



Thanks so much for going into so much detail on what the coin is about. Regardless if it's real or not, it's really fun to know.

I agree that I should figure out the weight first, I don't want to subliminally think it's ok when it's not. lol

I'll visit my lady's dad tomorrow to weigh it and let you know.

Thanks again!

Trevor

lordmarcovan

Yep, I'm afraid that one screams "cast fake".

PS- would make a heckuva cool "heads or tails" flipping coin, or golf ball marker, or pocket piece, though. You could really impress the non-numismatically inclined folks with it.

LochNESS

Careful, you use it for golf ball marker and forget it, and then someone finds it with their metal detector, and starts thinking the Greeks discovered America! I know it sounds crazy but a similar story happened not too long ago with some Chinese coins on American soil