Authentication of Athenian Owl

stevepk · December 3, 2014 7:51PM

What is the likelihood of this coin being real?

Craigs List

astrorat · December 3, 2014 9:31PM

Although I do not have the expertise to authenticate the coin* from the image, the ad appears off to me. The image is incongruent with the text. The image appears to be of a decent Athenian Owl set in a nice display commonly seen with ancients. The text is obviously from someone who does not appear to have any expertise. That mismatch on a place like Craig's List, for me, is a red flag.

*The tool marks around Athena's face give me pause, but I do not know the series well enough to be definitive.

Edited for spelling ...

STLNATS · December 3, 2014 9:45PM

Doesn't seem to be an obvious fake, but sure looks like a highjacked image. Nice wooden coin tray with what looks like a high grade coin but the image seems grainy and the text doesn't provide any real details which one would expect if the seller had done the research. Agree with Astrorat lots of red flags here.

Zohar · December 3, 2014 9:52PM

I don't like this seller as he is using a UK based seller's image - LINK

People have become very dishonest with each other.

Nap · December 3, 2014 10:11PM

Hijacked image.

What is the likelihood of this coin being real?

Zero.

STLNATS · December 3, 2014 10:54PM

<< Hijacked image.

What is the likelihood of this coin being real?

Zero. >>

I think the coin might be ok, but it's clear that the CL seller doesn't own it since Zohar found the identical image on ebay from someone in the UK.

Zohar · December 3, 2014 11:05PM

I recently got taken by a Chinese fake seller based in Germany. They now disguise their fraud by situating themselves in other countries. Image was hijacked, coin was fake.

STLNATS · December 3, 2014 11:12PM

<< I recently got taken by a Chinese fake seller based in Germany. They now disguise their fraud by situating themselves in other countries. Image was hijacked, coin was fake. >>

Is the ebay seller a known seller of fakes? Not familiar with him.

determined · December 3, 2014 11:42PM

Good catch Zohar!

<< The tool marks around Athena's face give me pause, but I do not know the series well enough to be definitive. >>

Just FYI, those appear to be flow lines or die erosion lines. They appear naturally on authentic coins but are also found on counterfeits, intentional put there to deceive. And if the forgers use an authentic coin with flow lines to make cast fakes from, then of course the cast fakes will also have those lines. So flow lines by themselves are not definitive for authentic or fake coins.

Zohar · December 4, 2014 12:56AM

Ebay crookster user name is anunparos

STLNATS · December 4, 2014 1:09AM

<< Ebay crookster user name is anunparos >>

Gotcha, thanks!

CIVITAS · December 4, 2014 2:19AM

The coin in the photo appears very genuine.

The intent of the craigslist poster to defraud or rob you, also seems very genuine.

astrorat · December 4, 2014 3:36AM

<< Good catch Zohar!

<< The tool marks around Athena's face give me pause, but I do not know the series well enough to be definitive. >>

Just FYI, those appear to be flow lines or die erosion lines. They appear naturally on authentic coins but are also found on counterfeits, intentional put there to deceive. And if the forgers use an authentic coin with flow lines to make cast fakes from, then of course the cast fakes will also have those lines. So flow lines by themselves are not definitive for authentic or fake coins. >>

Thank you. Those flow lines are so prominent as to trigger my concern.

Zohar · December 4, 2014 3:43AM

Now who is going to send the Craiglist guy the link to the ebay picture

Aethelred · December 5, 2014 9:26PM

<< The coin in the photo appears very genuine.

The intent of the craigslist poster to defraud or rob you, also seems very genuine. >>

Well said and correct on both counts I believe.

Authentication of Athenian Owl

Comments