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 Replies: 12 / Views: 2,212 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
I just ran across this and had to share. It's probably the nicest example of "hoard patina" on an early classical Athens owl tet--with some "sand patina" too!  Sometimes silver is best left as found. Obviously, the patina strongly influenced the sale price-- $12,500 in 2007--I'll enjoy coins like this from afar.   Edited by DVCollector
02/05/2012 4:22 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Very, very nice - I think I prefer the natural patina on these silver coins now.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
BEAUTIFUL! I would love to have the wherewithal to own something like this. Thanks for making me jealous of someone (hehe).
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2596 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7201 Posts |
A very attractive specimen, thanks for showing it!.
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Very nice sand patina, nice to see one of these that hasn't been cleaned.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
10045 Posts |
 the sand patina works very well on the reverse. Interesting note--this coin was mis-attributed as an "archaic style Athena" in the auction details. While it's not archaic, perhaps two bidders thought it was. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
Ah my God that is so nice! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3229 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
The Greek silver we normally see is of a silvery appearance. When these are dug up, often the detail is impossible to see because of the crud on them.
Mostly, they are prepared by experienced people for sale by treatment in acid.
The coin pictured is an exception, because all of the detail is intact and can be seen without any cleaning. If all Greek silver could be obtained like this, the world of ancient coin collecting would be much happier.
Unfortunately, it is rare to get an unmolested piece of Greek silver like this one. Most of them require cleaning, even if it is just to find out what they are.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1549 Posts |
I wonder if it has been cleaned since 2007?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
Quote:
I wonder if it has been cleaned since 2007? Let's hope not |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Quote:
I wonder if it has been cleaned since 2007?  We can only hope it will never be touched. This coin is a rare exception--it must have been buried in very arid conditions, without much groundwater intrusion or chlorides to attack the silver. Here is a less-than-ideal burial of tets that with a thicker crust that obscures details.  |
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Replies: 12 / Views: 2,212 |
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Posted 02/05/2012 2:41 pm
