Received this from a mate in Texas, purchased from a pawn shop as a fake, I still think it is cool.! (die crack heaven). :angel:
(http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/o787/robster836/005_zpsbtoy7cpr.jpg)
(http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/o787/robster836/004_zps6zemtreg.jpg)
Doesnt quite look like silver either
Well have I good news for you then Robster. Your coin is most likely genuine going by the look of the reverse. On stevos comment the coin itself actually isn't silver but bronze gilt with a silver wash due to the debasement of their currency in the later years of the Roman Empire. To determine anything else such as emperor ,mint ,mint year or reference number one would need a picture of the other side.
Congratulations on the great pick up.
My first impression was fake. But a closer look shows some deep down dirt in the crevices. p.s. which other side of which side are you referring to.! I have checked and there are only two sides. lol.
Thanks for the info, will investigate further. :angel:
Sorry the second picture didn't load on my screen at first. On seeing it I can certainly say it is ancient and most definetely authentic. My specialty is Macedonian coins however try shooting of a message to sap. He is very good with roman coins and should be able to determine the details.
Regardless the silvering that Stevo was referring to is quite a plus for the coin as quite a lot of the roman coins lost their silvering over time. I would grade it as gVF with exceptional hair detailing.
P.s how did you take those photos? Do you have a particular setup?
Quote from: 'Robster' pid='70777' dateline='1429073868'I have checked and there are only two sides. lol.
:laugh2: ...... you forgot my side .......
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/11067/rob_side.jpg)
Did the pawn shop happen to pass on any particular reasons why they knew/thought it was fake? Comparing it to the FORVM fakes database, I can see several different examples of the same type (such as this one (http://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/displayimage.php?pos=-7263)), but none of them are a die match for either the obverse or reverse.
The coin is a denarius of emperor Severus Alexander, reverse type SPES PVBLICA (Hope of the People). Listed in Sear as number 7927 where it is dated to AD 232 and given the references RIC 254, BMC 897 and RSC 546.
The pawn shops' only reason was that it was not silver.:angel: (according to my friend in Texas).
Sorry for the fuzzy pics. O.M.F. Pics were taken hand held with a 100mm macro.!
Quote from: 'Robster' pid='70786' dateline='1429087783'The pawn shops' only reason was that it was not silver.:angel: (according to my friend in Texas).
Sorry for the fuzzy pics. O.M.F. Pics were taken hand held with a 100mm macro.!
They are pretty good for the Roman series. Quite complimentary of their features to be honest. Anyway a rather good pick up then.
Quote from: 'stevo1962' pid='70774' dateline='1429068995'Doesnt quite look like silver either
:scratch_one-s_head: isn't there three sides, isn't the rim classed as a side :winkextra: yep one in every crowd :angel: