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Coin and Paper Money Collecting/Believe it is a Greek coin

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Expert: - 2/7/2010


Question

Scan of coin
The date on the coin is 1863 & 1963. It has 5 profiles of what looks like Greek leaders on smaller coins and a crown on top of a cross. The obverse has a map of Greece and surrounding areas with a boat and a fish It has 30Ap on it. What is it?

Answer
Hi James,
This is indeed a Greek coin, a commemorative 30 drachmai depicting the portraits of the 5 Greek kings with a map on the opposite side. This coin is made of .835 purity silver. A typical one in the condition that your is in sells for $10 to $15. The fact that your coin shas been fitted with a loop for jewelry can either slightly hurt or help the value.
A coin collector would pay a little less, but someone who wants to use it in a crafted item would pay a little more.
Thanks for the question! =)

Dmitry Livshits

Expertise

My specialty is world coins from the 18th to 20th centuries, primarily non-US foreign coins and related areas such as errors and exonumia (tokens, medals, etc.). I can answer questions relating to identification, grading, selling, preservation and evaluation of such items. In addition to catalog value, I can give you the practical market value and trends for specific types of coins. I will also take questions regarding counterfeits (both modern and antique) and on how to identify them. I am NOT knowledgeable in paper money/banknotes, ancient or "shipwreck" coins. Thank you.

Experience

Collector of world coins since early childhood. Access to a variety of auction records and reference material. You can also find me on Facebook.

Education/Credentials
A.S. in Psychology (2006), B.A. in Forensic Psychology (2008), M.A. in Forensic Psychology (2011).

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