EGYPT, Alexandria. Nero. AD 54-68. BI Tetradrachm (24.5mm, 13.03 g, 1h). Contemporary imitation. Dated RY 13 (AD 66/67).

Electronic Auction 483
Lot: 351. Estimated: $ 300

Roman Provincial, Billon

Sold For $ 550. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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EGYPT, Alexandria. Nero. AD 54-68. BI Tetradrachm (24.5mm, 13.03 g, 1h). Contemporary imitation. Dated RY 13 (AD 66/67). Radiate bust right, wearing aegis; L IΓ (retrograde date) below chin / ΣEBAETOΦOPO (sic), corbita with helmsman under sail to right; two dolphins in water. Cf. Köln 184-6; Dattari (Savio) pl. 317, 92-8 (same dies); cf. K&G 14.99; cf. RPC I 5296; cf. Emmett 121.13; William E. Metcalf, “Two Alexandrian Hoards. 1. A Hoard of Forgeries from Luxor,” (Revue Belge de Numismatique Vol. CXXII, 1976, pp. 65-69) Obv. VI/Rev. 9 (same dies). Dark brown patina with light deposits and verdigris. Good VF. Very rare.

According to Metcalf’s article: “Thus a hoard of Alexandrian forgeries in the collection of the American Numismatic Society is of particular interest. It was acquired at Luxor in March, 1908, by the late E. T. Newell. The 76 pieces still in the ANS may or may not represent the entire hoard, since Newell was in the habit of disposing of duplicate or damaged specimens; but the presence of many die-duplicates suggests that the hoard was not systematically culled.”

This cataloguer has seen about a half dozen of these forgeries over the years, and they are all die matches to the coins published by Metcalf in 1976. In any case, contemporary counterfeits of Alexandrian coins, as noted by Metcalf, are extremely rare.

Closing Date and Time: 6 January 2021 at 11:56:40 ET.

All winning bids are subject to an 18% buyer’s fee.