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 Replies: 21 / Views: 3,556 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4973 Posts |
ohhhh...i think I see the head now.
i went to vcoins and searched for "incuse left". there are a several possibilities, may be worth a look.
I'm guessing a hemibol?
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Pillar of the Community
 1121 Posts |
Is it possibly an Ionia, Phokaia, AR Trihemiobol with the head of 'Athena' or 'Lo' (see also below   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3444 Posts |
Without better pics I doubt much can be said with more certainty. The coin image you found looks to be in the archaic style while yours is almost certainly a 'classical' style bust. Something more akin to this Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 478-387 BC. Head of nymph left, hair in sakkos; [below, seal to right] / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 93. 2.56g, 10mm.  The size is similar but this one is made of "electrum" a gold-silver alloy. Your coin looks to be rather well 'patinated' so I doubt it is electrum. But what makes you so sure it is silver ? |
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Pillar of the Community
1121 Posts |
But what makes you so sure it is silver ?
Well, being rather new to all of this, deductions by ruling out alternatives.
Under close inspection there is no hint of copper or bronze color, and there is no verdigris to indicate copper or bronze, so I ruled them out and gold doesn't tarnish so that left me with silver. (Very simplistic I know).
I never considered Electrum.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
I know we are talking early Greek here, but on later Romans you can get green deposits on silver coins and on some you will also see bronze colour coming through. It depends upon how debased the silver was. Any chance of cleaning up the reverse?
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Pillar of the Community
1121 Posts |
I will try and get back in a few days.
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Pillar of the Community
1121 Posts |
Pish. I was told to clean coins by soaking in Olive oil. In the absence of Olive Oil, do you know if Canola oil is as good?
Also, I have just ordered a Sanoto light box and some 18% Gray card to improve the (photo) images. I don't expect them to arrive for at least a week (or so).
Edited by Topcat7
08/23/2014 05:50 am
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
Personally I would not use Canola, I would buy a small bottle of olive oil for the purpose. Or a larger bottle if you are going to be doing this a lot! My first stop is usually distilled water rather than olive oil.
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Pillar of the Community
1121 Posts |
Distilled water I have plenty of.
(I will NEVER use vinegar and baking soda again.)
Are you thinking that the coins may be made of Billon?
Edited by Topcat7
08/23/2014 9:31 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
I don't have an opinion of what it is made of. I always use DW or de-ionised water. On some rare occasions I have used Olive Oil but only on silver. Once you have used OO you can't use DW. I just don't like the idea of gunky OO on bronze, and OO can change the patina.
I am assuming that it looks the colour of silver, electrum looks to be a very pale yellow in the examples I have seen online. I have never seen one "live".
If the incuse square can be cleaned out you might have better luck in identifying it. It might need a very long soak and lots of patience.
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Pillar of the Community
1121 Posts |
I have read where it has been suggested to clean out between the lettering (and therefore the incuse square) with the point of a needle, but I fear leaving the presence of 'scratches' using that method, so a long soak in de-mineralized water (doing that now) is my first avenue of attack.
Then, I propose to brush with a nylon toothbrush (cut short) to remove any 'garbage' that has been 'loosened' by the soaking.
By the time all of this has been done, my Sonata Light Box might have arrived and I can set to and try to take better photographs of these coins and post them.
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Valued Member
United States
152 Posts |
I believe the active acid in olive oil is oleic acid. Canola oil may have some eruric acid. Definitely different. Go with olive oil because you can make some great salads while cleaning coins.............  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
Patience is your best friend here. That crud has been there fore 2000 years and more, it will take a while to shift it.
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Pillar of the Community
1121 Posts |
Thanks for joining in, Paul.
See, all of this knowledge is out there somewhere.
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Pillar of the Community
1121 Posts |
An update for those who may be interested.  Reference Jencek Historical Enterprise. Thanks to everyone. |
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Replies: 21 / Views: 3,556 |
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Posted 08/22/2014 03:08 am
