Authenticity Jitters: My Deep Dive into an Athenian Tetradrachm

Ancient coins have always captured my imagination, but recently an Athenian tetradrachm made me seriously question how we spot fakes. Take this particular coin I examined—an Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm from 454-404 BC, showing Athena’s helmeted profile and that famous owl with AθE inscription. It weighed 15.60 grams, spanned 24 mm, and bore a noticeable test cut. But when fellow collectors started whispering doubts, I had to investigate. Let me walk you through what I discovered.

What Made Me Question It

Looking closely, several warning signs jumped out—the kind that make collectors nervous. Here’s what felt off to me:

• The weight felt light: At 15.60 grams, it’s well below the usual 17.2 grams for these. Sure, ancient mints worked within tolerances (they measured by the pound, not per coin), but such a big difference often hints at casting or tampering.
• Surfaces seemed unnatural: Those circular cracks on the flan? They didn’t look like normal wear. And the lack of crispness around Athena’s eye, plus odd pitting, screamed casting flaws rather than honest corrosion. The coppery tint in photos also worried me—could be residue from electrolysis cleaning where copper bled from other coins.
• Details felt shaky: Athena’s eye looked distorted, unlike sharp originals. And why put a test cut on a suspected cast fake? If it was forged, someone added that cut later, which just deepens the mystery.

Why I Think It Could Be Genuine

Despite the red flags, some points suggest it’s real. Remember—these coins survived millennia underground, so perfection’s rare.

• Weight varies sometimes: I’ve handled enough tetradrachms to know weights can swing high or low without meaning fake—especially if everything else lines up.
• Cleaning can mislead: That weird surface texture? Might be from harsh cleaning or environmental damage. The copper tone could easily be gunk from a shared cleaning bath, not proof it’s counterfeit. Photos often make corrosion look suspicious too.
• Trust matters: It came from Ephesus Numismatics on VCoins—a solid dealer I’ve met at shows. Mistakes happen (wrong coins ship), but their reputation makes me lean toward “real but overcleaned.”

What to Do When You’re Not Sure

Staring at a questionable coin? Here’s how I handle those nail-biting moments:

• Stick with trusted sellers: Buy from VCoins dealers who guarantee authenticity. Most will refund if it’s proven fake.
• Check the basics: Weigh it precisely against known examples. Study details—fakes often have mushy features like that wonky eye.
• Context helps: Test cuts usually meant ancient quality checks. Here, the owner kept it, valuing both the dealer’s word and personal enjoyment—a call I totally get.
• Ask the hive mind: When uncertain, I consult experts or post photos on forums like Reddit. But remember: photos lie. Hold the coin if you can.

After all this, I believe it’s probably authentic—just brutally cleaned. For us collectors, it’s a nudge to stay alert but also trust reliable sources. Because honestly, half the fun is wrestling with history’s mysteries, one coin at a time.