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A few months ago, I went to the Acropolis Museum and bought a Parthenon Attic Tetradrachm repro from the gift shop.
It's in a box, and comes with a COA. According to it, it's 16.1 grams and is pure silver, and is an official product of the Bank of Greece.
Personally, I think it's real, but can't find any data on the coin.
Please help.
Pictures will be added.
ForeignFares
A few months ago, I went to the Acropolis Museum and bought a Parthenon Attic Tetradrachm repro from the gift shop.
It's in a box, and comes with a COA. According to it, it's 16.1 grams and is pure silver, and is an official product of the Bank of Greece.
Personally, I think it's real, but can't find any data on the coin.
Please help.
Pictures will be added.
If they sell it as a reproduction then it isn’t real. Every historic venue in the UK sells reproduction coins and there is always a mark on them that is proof they are not genuine, for my sins I can’t resist buying these coins and putting them in my tokens collection
I know, but I am trying to figure out its documentation and why it was made by the Bank of Greece.
A similar example to what I have would be the 2021 Morgan dollar, which is a repro, but was made by the US Mint and as a result sold like hot cakes.
Despite my many efforts, I have not been able to find any documentation of my coin online, even at the Bank of Greece and Acropolis websites.
Offa
ForeignFares
A few months ago, I went to the Acropolis Museum and bought a Parthenon Attic Tetradrachm repro from the gift shop.
It's in a box, and comes with a COA. According to it, it's 16.1 grams and is pure silver, and is an official product of the Bank of Greece.
Personally, I think it's real, but can't find any data on the coin.
Please help.
Pictures will be added.
If they sell it as a reproduction then it isn’t real. Every historic venue in the UK sells reproduction coins and there is always a mark on them that is proof they are not genuine, for my sins I can’t resist buying these coins and putting them in my tokens collection
I know, but this one has no COPY stamp on it and was licensed by the national mint, not by a third party. It even comes with a Bank of Greece COA, and the Bank of Greece is indeed the national mint of Greece.
I'm sorry but I don't understand the question. Do you think its real as in a real ancient coin or real as in a reproduction made by the Bank of Greece and you're just trying to find some info on it as mintage, mint year etc?
I wouldn't compare this to a Morgan dollar since Morgan dollars were always made by the US mint while ancient drachm were struck long before the Bank of Greece was founded. It makes no difference if it was made by the Bank of Greece or any other bank just like replicas of ancient Roman coins struck in Rome are no more Roman than those struck in China. If there's no denomination on it its just a tourist souvenir.
Hi,
I believe this is probably the item you're looking for: https://issuu.com/theacropolismuseum/docs/exhibit_reproductions_catalogue_february_2023_en
PAGES 34-35
It's unlikely you'll find such an item on Numista - such an item would, as I understand the rules, be exonumia. Basically, it's not really a coin in Numista's eyes because it has no legal trading value, nor has it ever had one. It, of course, has a bullion value (of ~10 euros given todays price of silver) but that's not the same.
There's probably not a lot of information to be gathered on it. It's made as a curio for tourists - in this case, likely very well made if they got the national bank to produce it - but it's ultimately just an ornament. If there's any additional information to be gained, such as mintage figures, it will be on the COA. If not mentioned, probably so they can keep making them for future tourists.
It's quite common to not share the production date of these coins - as it can make stock look old. E.g. If you found out that they were made in 2000, and the shop was still selling them in 2023, you might question why - is it poor quality? Uncollectable? Easier to not say anything. Plus it allows them to create further reproductions later without ending up with a “2022 issue” and a “2023 issue” and so on. Simply makes it easier for them.
P.s. If that is your “coin” it's not pure silver. It's Sterling Silver (0.925 is 92.5% silver, 7.5% “other” metal. Pure is 100%, Fine is usually 99.9%.) Just if you're considering selling it, might be worth knowing the difference.
That being said, Sterling Silver is usually the highest quality of silver in general use. Same as good quality jewellery. Basically, anything of higher purity is very hard to refine, and also not as solid which limits its usage. So, you've probably got the highest quality reproduction they'll ever make.
cro321
I'm sorry but I don't understand the question. Do you think its real as in a real ancient coin or real as in a reproduction made by the Bank of Greece and you're just trying to find some info on it as mintage, mint year etc?
I wouldn't compare this to a Morgan dollar since Morgan dollars were always made by the US mint while ancient drachm were struck long before the Bank of Greece was founded. It makes no difference if it was made by the Bank of Greece or any other bank just like replicas of ancient Roman coins struck in Rome are no more Roman than those struck in China. If there's no denomination on it its just a tourist souvenir.
I am comparing it to the 2021 Morgan Dollar, which was a reproduction of the original, but was made by the US Mint. Similarly, my repro drachma was also a reproduction of the original, made by the Bank of Greece, a.k.a the national mint of Greece. I understand that such a coin has no face value, but I wish to get some information on it, as there is none that I could find.
A Collector
Hi,
I believe this is probably the item you're looking for: https://issuu.com/theacropolismuseum/docs/exhibit_reproductions_catalogue_february_2023_en
PAGES 34-35
It's unlikely you'll find such an item on Numista - such an item would, as I understand the rules, be exonumia. Basically, it's not really a coin in Numista's eyes because it has no legal trading value, nor has it ever had one. It, of course, has a bullion value (of ~10 euros given todays price of silver) but that's not the same.
There's probably not a lot of information to be gathered on it. It's made as a curio for tourists - in this case, likely very well made if they got the national bank to produce it - but it's ultimately just an ornament. If there's any additional information to be gained, such as mintage figures, it will be on the COA. If not mentioned, probably so they can keep making them for future tourists.
It's quite common to not share the production date of these coins - as it can make stock look old. E.g. If you found out that they were made in 2000, and the shop was still selling them in 2023, you might question why - is it poor quality? Uncollectable? Easier to not say anything. Plus it allows them to create further reproductions later without ending up with a “2022 issue” and a “2023 issue” and so on. Simply makes it easier for them.
P.s. If that is your “coin” it's not pure silver. It's Sterling Silver (0.925 is 92.5% silver, 7.5% “other” metal. Pure is 100%, Fine is usually 99.9%.) Just if you're considering selling it, might be worth knowing the difference.
That being said, Sterling Silver is usually the highest quality of silver in general use. Same as good quality jewellery. Basically, anything of higher purity is very hard to refine, and also not as solid which limits its usage. So, you've probably got the highest quality reproduction they'll ever make.
yes thank you. I live in an area where there are little to none coin shops, and I know what sterling silver is. you found my coin, and I just wanted some info.
A Collector
Hi,
I believe this is probably the item you're looking for: https://issuu.com/theacropolismuseum/docs/exhibit_reproductions_catalogue_february_2023_en
PAGES 34-35
It's unlikely you'll find such an item on Numista - such an item would, as I understand the rules, be exonumia. Basically, it's not really a coin in Numista's eyes because it has no legal trading value, nor has it ever had one. It, of course, has a bullion value (of ~10 euros given todays price of silver) but that's not the same.
There's probably not a lot of information to be gathered on it. It's made as a curio for tourists - in this case, likely very well made if they got the national bank to produce it - but it's ultimately just an ornament. If there's any additional information to be gained, such as mintage figures, it will be on the COA. If not mentioned, probably so they can keep making them for future tourists.
It's quite common to not share the production date of these coins - as it can make stock look old. E.g. If you found out that they were made in 2000, and the shop was still selling them in 2023, you might question why - is it poor quality? Uncollectable? Easier to not say anything. Plus it allows them to create further reproductions later without ending up with a “2022 issue” and a “2023 issue” and so on. Simply makes it easier for them.
P.s. If that is your “coin” it's not pure silver. It's Sterling Silver (0.925 is 92.5% silver, 7.5% “other” metal. Pure is 100%, Fine is usually 99.9%.) Just if you're considering selling it, might be worth knowing the difference.
That being said, Sterling Silver is usually the highest quality of silver in general use. Same as good quality jewellery. Basically, anything of higher purity is very hard to refine, and also not as solid which limits its usage. So, you've probably got the highest quality reproduction they'll ever make.
do you think this should be added to the exonumia section?
Hi,
Pleased I was able to find your coin, although I probably didn't give you any information you didn't already know. Seems there's honestly just not much information to be gathered about that item. If you were desperate to know more about the technical side of the item, then there is an e-mail address on page 3 of the catalogue. That's probably your best chance of getting any more information about the replica itself that's not visible on the COA.
If you're wanting to learn more about the original coin of which the replica is of, I think it's probably closest to this one here: N#34551
There's a few tetradrachm in that era that look similar artistically - seems to have been the standard design of the Attica “Athens” Mint from ~550BCE to ~100BCE. These can be seen here: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/index.php?e=attica_section&r=Tetradrachm&ct=coin&im1=&im2=&tb=y&tc=y&tn=y&tp=y&tt=y&cat=y&ru=&ca=3&no=&v=&i=&b=&d=&ie=&u=&a=&dg=&m=1&f=&t=&w=&mt=&g=&se=&c=&wi=&sw=
With it being such an ancient coin, there's not a massive amount of information to be gleaned from it. The owl is a symbol of Athena, patron goddess of Athens, and she herself is the face on the other side. AOE apparently translates to be “Of the Athenians”. With it being a fairly large value coin, and being made in silver, it also puts the wealth & power of the Athenian state for all “foreigners” to see. It's sort of a big PR coin - “Look at how great the Athenian state is. We're rich & powerful because we have the (implied) approval of Athena.”
Afraid ancient coins aren't really my area of expertise, so I can't offer any “recommended reading” or anything else.
=====
Adding it to the Exonumia catalogue. Honestly, exonumia isn't really my thing either. So far as I'm concerned, it certainly fits the criteria and if it was going to be added anywhere, that's the place to put it. Would I go through the effort of adding it? Personally, no. Odds are you're one of a very few people who own it, and even fewer of those people are on Numista, and perhaps fewer still would actually use the page you've created. Feels like a lot of effort when you might be only person in the world to use it. Suppose it depends on whether you're as lazy as I am! 😛
However, if you want to be able to add it to your Numista collection, then I wouldn't have any objections to you doing so. I guess I'd file it under “Souvenir Medals” → “Replicas”, which is where all the reproduction coins live.
=====
I do hope that I've been of some assistance to you. I think I've given you as much help as I can, anything beyond would be too specialised for me. I'm sure if you asked on the forums, there would be some Ancient Greek specialists (or at least, enthusiastic amateurs) who'd be more than happy to talk history with you or recommend where to look for information on the historical significance.
P.s. Sorry if I offended you talking about the silver content. One of my friends accidentally got into some trouble selling a “pure” silver necklace online when it was “only” sterling, and didn't want that to happen to you. Re-reading my original message looks a little condescending and that wasn't my intention!
A Collector
Hi,
Pleased I was able to find your coin, although I probably didn't give you any information you didn't already know. Seems there's honestly just not much information to be gathered about that item. If you were desperate to know more about the technical side of the item, then there is an e-mail address on page 3 of the catalogue. That's probably your best chance of getting any more information about the replica itself that's not visible on the COA.
If you're wanting to learn more about the original coin of which the replica is of, I think it's probably closest to this one here: N#34551
There's a few tetradrachm in that era that look similar artistically - seems to have been the standard design of the Attica “Athens” Mint from ~550BCE to ~100BCE. These can be seen here: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/index.php?e=attica_section&r=Tetradrachm&ct=coin&im1=&im2=&tb=y&tc=y&tn=y&tp=y&tt=y&cat=y&ru=&ca=3&no=&v=&i=&b=&d=&ie=&u=&a=&dg=&m=1&f=&t=&w=&mt=&g=&se=&c=&wi=&sw=
With it being such an ancient coin, there's not a massive amount of information to be gleaned from it. The owl is a symbol of Athena, patron goddess of Athens, and she herself is the face on the other side. AOE apparently translates to be “Of the Athenians”. With it being a fairly large value coin, and being made in silver, it also puts the wealth & power of the Athenian state for all “foreigners” to see. It's sort of a big PR coin - “Look at how great the Athenian state is. We're rich & powerful because we have the (implied) approval of Athena.”
Afraid ancient coins aren't really my area of expertise, so I can't offer any “recommended reading” or anything else.
=====
Adding it to the Exonumia catalogue. Honestly, exonumia isn't really my thing either. So far as I'm concerned, it certainly fits the criteria and if it was going to be added anywhere, that's the place to put it. Would I go through the effort of adding it? Personally, no. Odds are you're one of a very few people who own it, and even fewer of those people are on Numista, and perhaps fewer still would actually use the page you've created. Feels like a lot of effort when you might be only person in the world to use it. Suppose it depends on whether you're as lazy as I am! 😛
However, if you want to be able to add it to your Numista collection, then I wouldn't have any objections to you doing so. I guess I'd file it under “Souvenir Medals” → “Replicas”, which is where all the reproduction coins live.
=====
I do hope that I've been of some assistance to you. I think I've given you as much help as I can, anything beyond would be too specialised for me. I'm sure if you asked on the forums, there would be some Ancient Greek specialists (or at least, enthusiastic amateurs) who'd be more than happy to talk history with you or recommend where to look for information on the historical significance.
P.s. Sorry if I offended you talking about the silver content. One of my friends accidentally got into some trouble selling a “pure” silver necklace online when it was “only” sterling, and didn't want that to happen to you. Re-reading my original message looks a little condescending and that wasn't my intention!
thanks!
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