My First Ancient Coin (Of 2013 Anyway)

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Author	Replies: 10 / Views: 1,466
dougsmit Pillar of the Community United States 1549 Posts	Posted 01/22/2013 7:59 pm Today after only 19 days since payment the postman delivered my very first coin purchased in 2013 (actually the first to arrive here for quite a while since I bought none in December). This would be not bad if it came from overseas but dealers who take two weeks to mail coins can't blame a post office that took two business days to cover the 400 miles. So far I have failed to take a decent photo of it but I'll have to try and try again. Coins with much but not complete silvering always give me trouble in photographing. This Claudius II has a left facing portrait - only my second for this ruler. My second coin for 2013 was ordered yesterday (from out of the US) still making it possible that it will arrive before the end of the month. I wonder if this is a sign that 2013 will be a record low productive year for my collection? I hope you are finding more you want than I am. Report this Post to the Staff

echizento Moderator United States 23731 Posts	Posted 01/22/2013 8:40 pm Very nice left facing bust of Claudius II. I haven't been able to afford any coins since November and with all the new stuff everyone have been posting lately I'm jealous. Report this Post to the Staff
Doucet Pillar of the Community United States 1315 Posts	Posted 01/22/2013 8:48 pm Nice looking coin. There is probably much more detail than the photo shows, and you will get it to show in the photo soon I hope. I'm glad to know that silvering gives you some trouble because it gives me a lot of trouble! My silvered coins always look somewhat out of focus. Edited by Doucet 01/22/2013 8:50 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Gil-galad Pillar of the Community United States 2044 Posts	Posted 01/22/2013 9:03 pm Very nice coin! As some of you know, I recently purchased one nearly the same, but lower grade and no silvering. Report this Post to the Staff
Bing Pillar of the Community United States 4253 Posts	Posted 01/22/2013 9:06 pm Both of these coins are interesting. Great portraits and left facing to boot. I double checked my catalog, but, alas, I do not have a left facing coin. Now you both have me jealous . Report this Post to the Staff
dougsmit Pillar of the Community United States 1549 Posts	Posted 01/23/2013 09:32 am Notice that Gil's coin has much better detail on the portrait especially when it comes to hair and crown details. How can this be? I suppose my coin could be just poorly struck to the point that it is defective and the silvering could be obscuring some details if it was applied after the coin was struck. Usually we think of silvering being applied to the blanks so a too thick residue might not reduce details as much or was it struck on an amalgam surface that later wiped off to a degree. I just don't know and have not been convinced by any of the written theories on how silvering was applied to the point that I can explain many coins I see. It is a subject I would like to see studied more completely. Report this Post to the Staff
TJsCoins Pillar of the Community United States 3229 Posts	Posted 01/23/2013 10:02 am Both really nice coins! I too have wondered about silvering and details. A local dealer said that he thinks that some coins had there silvering reclaimed from the coins when they were newly struck. Then they would have raw silver and coin to spend. This may be why you see unsilvered coins that should have silver with great details. Maybe? Report this Post to the Staff
maridvnvm Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 2121 Posts	Posted 01/23/2013 1:01 pm I only have one leftie for CIIG which I bought in a lot in November last year. Not silvered like the one Doug illustrates and a bit lacking in detail on the reverse but it's all there apart from that. Obv:â€" IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG, Radiate head left Rev:â€" IVNO REGINA, Juno standing left, patera in right, scepter in left, peacock at feet left Minted in Antioch. September 268 - August or September 270 A.D. Reference:â€" RIC V 212 I bought it from the same dealer as I got this Gallienus leftie. Martin Report this Post to the Staff
DVCollector Bedrock of the Community United States 10045 Posts	Posted 01/23/2013 2:26 pm Quote: I just don't know and have not been convinced by any of the written theories on how silvering was applied to the point that I can explain many coins I see. I've read somewhere of a technique called "pickling", which is used to this day by jewelers. In the case of low-grade Roman silver coins, they were soaked in a chemical solution that leaches away surface copper, leaving a more silvery appearance. That's just one theory I've read--please correct if you have better info! Report this Post to the Staff
dougsmit Pillar of the Community United States 1549 Posts	Posted 01/23/2013 5:35 pm As I understand the theory, pickling requires more silver in the flan than found in this period but was more common earlier making the surface look better of coins that were gray all the way through. Report this Post to the Staff
Ancientnoob Pillar of the Community United States 5155 Posts	Posted 01/24/2013 12:19 am Could the coin have been ciruclated, worn and "re-silvered" at somepoint? Maybe this coin was re issued, as the silver worn off? Report this Post to the Staff
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