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 Replies: 19 / Views: 1,007 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2250 Posts |
It's a nice coin. Ancient copper/bronze coins can react to the environment, surface areas can turn green/blue green called verdigris. If it's hard then it's stable, no problem. If it's soft and powdery or gets larger then it's active, called bronze disease and could damage a coin more. Keeping ancient coins in a low humidity environment is a good idea. Slabs are not waterproof or humidity proof. You could put it in a plastic baggie to help keep humidity out.
It's best to buy ancient copper/bronze coins without green patches on them. Your coin may have had some green spots on it when you bought it and you didn't notice.
I don't think the coin is worth sending in for conservation, just my opinion. You could break it out of the slab and treat it with a product called verdi-care but you'd lose the slab value. I'd just leave it in the slab in a baggie with a packet of desiccant, check on it and if it gets worse then take it out of the slab to treat it.
Edited by livingwater
03/06/2024 8:12 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Portugal
681 Posts |
If that corrosion appeared in two years the coin needs to be treated or will degrade more. That slab is bad for it. It is preventing the necessary treatment.
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Valued Member
 United States
244 Posts |
I will more than likely send it to PCGS for conservation. As the dealer I bought it from will send coins into PCGS for a minimal cost. I do not trust myself at all cracking it out and cleaning it myself as I have it zero knowledge of how to take care of ancient coins.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12057 Posts |
PCGS does not handle nor conserve ancients, unfortunately.
Member ANA - EAC - TNA - SSDC - CCT #890 "Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done." -- Louis D. Brandeis |
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Valued Member
United States
244 Posts |
Crap, that sucks, What's really shocking is just how fast it corroded even it was in a zip lock bag the day I got it and I never took it out. By the way I bought this coin two years ago but it appears to have been graded in the 2008-2015. So, it's been in the holder for somewhere between 9 to 14 years from what I can find online.
Edited by johnhenry9009
03/06/2024 9:17 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12057 Posts |
I'd send it to NCS (NGC's conservation.) It likely had pre-existing chemical processes started prior to being slabbed that continued once slabbed.
You can attempt to "cure" it yourself but if it's bronze disease (flaky powdery greenish-blue) you need to keep it away from any other coins. There are products such as Verdi-Care that might work to stabilize the coin if it's not BD.
Member ANA - EAC - TNA - SSDC - CCT #890 "Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done." -- Louis D. Brandeis |
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Valued Member
United States
244 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12057 Posts |
In that case might as well just leave it in, and buy a replacement. High grade Constantius II campgates are readily available and can be had for half or less of what you paid. And as an added bonus, buying one not slabbed means that the other person can hold it in their hands and just enjoy it.
Member ANA - EAC - TNA - SSDC - CCT #890 "Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done." -- Louis D. Brandeis |
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Valued Member
United States
244 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3445 Posts |
Disclaimer
While I have seen my share of BD I am not the foremost expert on the subject !
But
This doesn't look like garden variety BD to me
1) It doesn't have the "powdery" appearance !
Coins I have had afflicted with BD generally have a fuzzy appearance in the green areas
Almost like a green fungus !
2) Also seems to lack 'depth'
BD usually leaves some nasty deep scars like small pox
When picked at (with a toothpick) you generally end up with jagged holes as the 'disease' often extends well into the bronze flan
Lastly the green appears somewhat 'blue green' and not the very vivid citrus green I associate with BD !
This could be from lighting
But I hope not
It also appears to be very thinly spread over the very impressive silver wash still on the coin
I don't believe I have ever seen BD on a silver wash before
I am optimistic
I see no permanent scarring
I believe a cure is very possible
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3445 Posts |
Funny but I just had to look ! I noticed that the NGC attribution states AD 337-361 But also clearly notes that the coin was issued when he held the rank of Caesar (AD 324-337) Admittedly a minor error but still . If I am paying extra (often double !) for NGC to endorse the item I do expect the information to be pertinent So out of curiosity I went looking about And what do I find ? A Constantius II "as Caesar" with the same AD 337-361 dating ! Not only that but . green patches ? Zut Alors !  I realize I may be a tad petty about this But as I am preparing to send out a few boxes to NGC myself (for a significant amount of dollars) I am .. surprised ! |
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Valued Member
United States
244 Posts |
It's probably not bronze disease as the more I look at it just doesn't have the characteristics of a coin suffering from that ailment. As I did poke it with a toothpick and nothing really came off it appears to just be surface level gunk that's just stuck on there.
I'm a little surprised at how goofed up the name of this is because. Excuse me if I'm wrong but they appear to be two completely different coins identified by NGC as the same. Also are there any good sources/articles or books pertaining to ancient coins?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3445 Posts |
It's the same type coin but being 'ancients' no two are really identical Keeping in mind too that the Campgate reverse type of the three Caesars Constantine II Constans and Constantius II were produced in great quantity and are one of the most common ancient coins ever produced coming from many different mints across the empire The era of Constantine the Great was a time of prosperity but also economic inflation Until quite recently these types were sold in quantity for a few dollars apiece ! You could spend a lifetime collecting all the different mints and varieties of the sons of Constantine  A handy reference (as always) is by David Sear - Roman Coins and their Values But prices are a very relative thing |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2250 Posts |
There are reference books about ancient coins, general info books, specific books for Greek, Roman, Byzantine etc. Reference books can be pricey but you can get some online from used book stores. Some reference books go out of print and are hard to get.
A standard reference for Roman coins is Roman Imperial Coinage, it's 10 volumes written over decades by several authors, many thousands of coins described for the Roman Empire and very pricey for the whole set. When you see a coin described saying RIC with volume and number it's the type of coin in this set. If you have a good library in your area they may have some books about ancient coins.
You can learn a lot just by looking at ancient coins dealer and auction sites like Vcoins.com, CNGcoins.com, reading the descriptions of coins. Check other sites like Wildwinds.com, acsearch.info, Numista.com, etc.
Three beginner books that are good in my opinion:
1. Ancient Coin Collecting by Wayne G Sayles
2.The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Coins by William E Metcalf
3. Handbook of Ancient Greek and Roman Coins, Whitman Guidebook by Klawans and Bressett.
Just like modern coins/bullion there are fake ancient coins. Buy from dealers that are trusted or offer returns.
Edited by livingwater
03/10/2024 5:30 pm
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Valued Member
United States
244 Posts |
I am sad to announce that the bronze disease appears to have reactivated.  |
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Posted 03/06/2024 4:47 pm
