| Author |
 Replies: 21 / Views: 2,514 |
Page 2 of 2
|
|
|
|
Valued Member
279 Posts |
sometimes I've seen around resilvered antoninianii,even with something like silver spray used for retouch cars,spray you can find in any supermarket.I can't see well from pics in this case however I think is better stay away from buy in these cases.
I remeber a very good antoninianus of gordianus III coluored with silver spary.... it was terrible,I can't understand how can someone made these filths.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
Quote:
And to tell you the truth I need to get over this fear of fake ancients because I find myself leaning more and more to the ancient coins and am loosing interest in the US(modern) coins. Did anybody else go through this stage also or is it just me? You have just described me and I would bet most every other Ancients collector on this board. I collected modern coins for a long time, and with vigor. Then I discovered Ancients, and over time lost complete interest in modern coins. I still have them, locked away in a briefcase in a store room. Rarely do they even see the light of day. It's a shame really as I have some very nice modern coins. But, for me, Ancients are what peaks my interest. The history is incredible. As for the possibility of being duped with a fake, its a real possibility. I read somewhere that most collections will contain an average of 10-15% fakes. I think that may be too high, but I can tell you from personal experience, there are fakes out there. But over time and with experience you will be able to recognize most fakes for what they are. If you continue to be a part of the discussions on this and other forums, your chances of buying a fake will be lessened (that is unless you go crazy and buy without researching first). Everyone here will help to the best of our abilities to ensure you have genuine coins you are considering. As for knowing RIC and other resources, legends, bust styles, etc., that all comes with experience and time. None of us had any more knowledge then you when we started. At least I know I didn't. Stick around. We need you to be a part of this hobby. Regards, JW |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2596 Posts |
Thanks JW I think I have almost completely made the switch to ancients. I have been more and more interested in them over the past years. My interest in US coins has mostly been varieties and tokens over the last few years and I still like my feuchtwanger cent design the most out of the modern coins. My use of controversial methods has always been a problem with collectors. I am driven by a need to know-what methods people use and how they turn out, like cleaning and toning and how they look and feel afterwards and experimenting with different methods and mixtures. After I end up with a method and coin that I like, and feel satisfied that I just learned a new skill it adds to my satisfaction of the coin. I think I learn also what too look for in other coins for sale. thanks again and like I said this is the best place on the internet for learning and nice people too. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2596 Posts |
oh yeah and because I like fooling around with different methods and actively restoring coins I feel my best spot is in the restoration area of this hobby but learning about the history is also part of this so I am trying. Its so much fun bringing the coin out of its hiding place. now off to work.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
I always learn something new in the ancients section  j It makes total sense that silvering will not be over crud. Of course, I play it safe now by buying only from recognized dealers. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1315 Posts |
What is the price for these things? I'd be tempted to buy them strip the paint about halfway off the re-post them to show the world what these guys are up to. I can hardly see how any real silver wash would stick to that encrustation. jessvc1....About last March I woke up one day and for some reason decided to look at this ancient section of CC. I've only bought two Peace dollars since to finish off that collection, and rarely look at any coins other than ancients now. That's just me, but the huge variety coins and the ancient art work I just find much more interesting. |
|
Pillar of the Community
 United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Quote:
What is the price for these things? I'd better not post a direct link as I dont want to cause any headaches for the Mods but these two coins are selling together on a well known auction site - I'm sure searching for 'PROBUS ANTONINIANII' will bear fruit, less than a day to go Edited by bobbyhelmet
11/09/2011 2:41 pm
|
|
Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
The coins are genuine but have been resilvered. I changed to collecting only ancients some time ago, I held onto some of my US collection until yesterday when I sold the last of them. I usually don't buy one coin at a time, I'm more into large lots of uncleaned coins. Now I need to fine a good source for large lots at a fair price.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
But with bright silver coins, do they find them like that, or are they found somewhat dirty and cleaned to be that bright silver color? Quote:
Did anybody else go through this stage also or is it just me? Your transformation is almost complete  I am currently going through this and I have no regrets! I find myself spending more and more time in the ancient forum than in any other part of the site. Same with my buying habits. I haven't spent more than $20 on one US coin in like 4 months, and when I buy a coin, it's nearly always an ancient. I mean, I do have some nice US coins, but I'd rather look at and handle my ancient Romans. Edited by VisigothKing
11/09/2011 3:30 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Quote:
But with bright silver coins, do they find them like that, or are they found somewhat dirty and cleaned to be that bright silver color? 99% of the time only gold comes out of the ground in a good state, everything else has at some point been cleaned, occasionally hoards and single coins in good climates and conditions turn up almost ready to sell coins but its rare. Most need a bit of work. Cleaning is hard, unless you have the patience of a saint you need to accelerate the process but try not to damage the coin. I think sometimes cleaning becomes restoration, not a problem if the seller states this, sadly most dont! |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
What would be the climates+conditions that would best preserve an ancient coin?
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1549 Posts |
Dry sand without organic material preserves best. Wet swampy soil with high levels of non-organic chemical fertilizers corrodes worst. The vast majority of silver coins found have dark gray or black surfaces but can be batch cleaned into bright silver and look good to most collectors. Relatively few ancient collectors avoid cleaned silver coins compared to the serious fault such cleaning is considered with more modern coins. Since there are almost no ancient coins that did not do time buried, concepts like 'original mint bloom' don't exist in the hobby. There may have been coins in a drawer since 1400 AD but not since 400 AD and certainly not since 600 BC. The natural color for 2000 year old silver is black. There are many beautifully toned coins that have been cleaned and retoned but remember that some of our coins have been in collections for 200 years and all those naturally toned silver dollars got that way in less time than that so the question is how the original cleaning was done. People who will not have a cleaned coin should not collect ancients.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Quote:
Dry sand without organic material preserves best Right--arid desert burials, away from exposed air are the absolute best. The most famous example may be Tutankhamun's burial, where bronze, wood, and even iron survived largely unscathed for 3300+ years!  Under those conditions, a silver or perhaps even bronze coin might still show mint surfaces, even after 1000s of years. Edited by DVCollector
11/09/2011 8:36 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
Quote:
People who will not have a cleaned coin should not collect ancients. I would go one step further and say that unless you are satisfied with an encrusted lump, ancients must, in general, be cleaned. My only problem is with those who try to deceive by using artificial patina/silvering w/o telling the buyer. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1549 Posts |
Must be cleaned! Even most 'uncleaned' ancients have been cleaned. Lumps that have an inch of dirt used to have two inches of dirt. Some people are very skilled at looking, feeling and deciding which lumps contain salvageable coins and which are not worth the effort. They make a few mistakes and a few good coins slip through but coins that can be sorted, have been cleaned enough to be diagnosed. With experience, they can tell which encrustations will leave a rough surface when removed and which will look good.
IMHO the sad part is many new collectors fail to realize that there is a huge difference in cash value between rough and corroded coins and ones with pleasant surfaces. It is fine to love low grade coins but we should not pay close to high grade prices. I agree with jw that it is bad to deceive the buyer but I add one more level of improper deception. That is telling people that a coin has to look that way because it is old when the real reason is that we botched its conservation. Harsh cleaning methods may leave coins that can be identified but not coins that are attractive. The big skill in cleaning is knowing when to stop and sell the coin to someone else who will either love it as it is or reduce its value with poor cleaning.
|
|
Page 2 of 2
|
Replies: 21 / Views: 2,514 |
Page 2 of 2
|
First Page
Posted 11/09/2011 1:19 pm
