Jduck Posted April 10, 2023 Share Posted April 10, 2023 posted on counterfeit forum as well. Apologies if you read this twice. I have a number of coins from my families collection. I am not a collector but would like to know about them. My first question is authenticity. How can one tell if it is real? What am I looking for on this example? I am limited to the number of photos I can post but if it would help I can try and post more on specific areas to look at. Any help is deeply appreciated. weight: 16.42 grams diameter: 33 mm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWB Posted April 10, 2023 Share Posted April 10, 2023 (edited) Kings of Pontus, Mithradates VI, 120 – 63. Tetradrachm 67-66, AR 16.59 g. Diademed head r. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΜΥΘΡΑΔΑΤΟΥ / ΕΥΠAΤΟΡΟΣ / AΛΣ Deer grazing l.; at sides, star over crescent and monogram. All within ivy-wreath. Waddington 131 (as a starting point). de Callataÿ pl. XIII, D77/R1. Photos too fuzzy to help much. See: https://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=2200985&AucID=5291&Lot=199&Val=bd9592f815422c01bef24e8c305e76d9 Edited April 10, 2023 by RWB ldhair and rrantique 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henri Charriere Posted April 10, 2023 Share Posted April 10, 2023 [Welcome to the Forum and hope you've enjoyed a Happy Easter! I am glad you were able to get an answer on something that was "all Greek to me" from a knowledgeable source... and in record time, all of ten hours!... on a holiday no less! Remarkable.] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandon Posted April 10, 2023 Share Posted April 10, 2023 Welcome to the NGC chat board. The authentication of ancient coins can be complex and requires the assistance of an expert, who would need to examine the coins themselves. They were struck (or sometimes cast) by hand from handmade dies. No two genuine pieces are exactly alike, and there were counterfeits made during ancient times and at various times since, up to the present. NGC Ancients authenticates and grades such pieces, but it is difficult to submit these pieces without being able to describe them accurately on the submission forms, and it could prove unnecessarily costly if they turn out to be mostly counterfeit and/or of low value. You can check several dealer directories of which I am aware for dealers who hold them out as having expertise in ancients to hopefully find someone in your area who can assist you. NGC has one at Results | Coin Dealer Locator | NGC (ngccoin.com). The Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG) is a somewhat selective organization of purportedly reputable dealers, which has a member dealer locator at Find A PNG Dealer (memberclicks.net). There are also dealer locators for ancient coins on the websites of the American Numismatic Association at Ancient Coin Dealers (money.org) and Coin World (numismatic periodical) at Listings in Ancients | Coin World - Find a coin, bullion, medal, and paper money dealer. If you are interested in selling the coins at auction, some of the major numismatic auction houses, such as Goldberg Coins & Collectibles (GOLDBERG COINS & COLLECTIBLES INC. – A FAMILY TRADITION SINCE 1930), Heritage (ha.com), and Stacks Bowers (stacksbowers.com) may also be helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
