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Replies: 23 / Views: 7,207 |
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
287 Posts |
I have received a 'silver' coin in an uncleaned batch. it just doesn't feel right, cant explain it but just doesn't seem right.
I have seen the expression 'silvered roman coin', what does this mean? silver coated?
And if so, did the romans coat coins? or is this really a term for people messing with coins more recently?
Thanks
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
 There were bronze coins that had a silver wash put on them and then there were fourees, bronze core and silver plated. Then there is billon, need pics to point you in the right direction.
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Valued Member
 United Kingdom
287 Posts |
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Moderator
 Australia
16869 Posts |
Just to clarify, in case it's not clear yes, the ancient Romans did put a "silver wash" on certain coins, particularly the extremely-debased-silver coinage of the late 200s and early 300s AD. These are the coins usually referred to as "silvered'. If one is fortunate and the coin did not see much circulation before being buried, this silver layer can be preserved intact, though such coins need very careful cleaning to preserve it.
Exactly how the Romans performed this silvering trick is not entirely understood, and they may have used different techniques at different mints and different times. Some seem to have been made from blanks literally "washed" in molten silver prior to being struck. Other blanks have had a "pickling, a soak in acid to dissolve the copper off the surface and leave the silver behind. What is known is that, although it may have had a morale-boosting effect in terms of the silver coins still "looking silver", nobody was really fooled - the real-world purchasing power of the coins was not significantly greater due to such treatment.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Hard to say from your pictures. Can you take some clearer ones?
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Valued Member
 United Kingdom
287 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
It looks like billon to me.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
842 Posts |
It's Gordian III. Not sure what the reverse is though.
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Valued Member
 United Kingdom
287 Posts |
is billon definition basically silver coated?
Are billon silver coated coins as 'rubbish' as new silver coated coins are today?
Would the 'average value' of a billon coin be approx. halfway between bronze coins and silver coins?
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Valued Member
 United Kingdom
287 Posts |
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Valued Member
 United Kingdom
287 Posts |
Also, definitely could take tips on cleaning this kind of coin?
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
It is a debased silver coin that has been exposed to a damp environment and has corroded.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
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Valued Member
 United Kingdom
287 Posts |
I think the emperor on my coin looks a little like the queen :)
Cheers guys, hopefully I can get an ID on it, my first Roman silver/debased/billon coin :)
I don't plan to sell it, but in this condition... are we talking £5-£10 coin?
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
Based on the pics I wouldn't pay a fiver for it. Sorry.
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Based on condition this coin is worth under $5.
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Replies: 23 / Views: 7,207 |