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 Replies: 14 / Views: 1,694 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
805 Posts |
Thought that may grab your attention. I received this "stone" in a lot or uncleaned Roman coins. Although one side looks just like a stone, the other side has some interesting bronze and silver coloring. The only think I have seen close is electron coins but don't believe this is one. It measures approx 1.5mm x 14mm x 12mm. It is heavy at 2.7 grams. The bronze colored portion is raised and the silver colored portion is recessed. I'm new Ancients...please take it easy on me! LOL  Any ideas or is this a rock?    Edited by steve123
02/09/2013 5:13 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Looks like a rock..like soemthing you'd pick up on the beach. Where did you get this uncleaned lot?
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Interesting piece, it doe look like a stone. I wonder if it's medal that has calcified?
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
805 Posts |
Picked up the lot on E-Bay. The seller had 35277 feedback at 99.4% positive, so I gave them a try. I mentioned this stone in an e-mail and they are sending me some more coins. Actually communication and customer service have been top-notch.
It is very heavy for a stone and appears to be lead/silver and bronze.
Thought I'd ask around before I threw it in the driveway.
Edited by steve123
02/09/2013 5:23 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
I highly doubt its calcified metal. It wouldnt form like that. Try some Hydrochloric acid - calceous deposits should fizz and dissolve quite quickly - of course, anything underneath would be wrecked too.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
805 Posts |
I have been looking for something to try electrolysis on. Maybe I will try with this and see what happens.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
It has to conduct electricity to be able to be electrolysised. Unless that brown stuff is copper (it probably isn't - theres lots of stones like this at my 'local' beach) then you'll get nothing.
In my experience, not many rocks conduct electricity (if you find one that conducts electricity then it would probably be from a vein of metallic silver or gold, perhaps even copper but this is very rare and oxidises quickyl and wouldnt be smoothed like this without use of a tumbler).
What are you using for your electrolysis?
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
805 Posts |
I'm going to send these pics to the dealer that sent the lot and see what the reaaction is. I didn't send them any pics before, they just took my word for it. Stay tuned...
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
805 Posts |
Ben: I haven't set anything up yet as I have read that it is usually a last resort. I have some old transformers and was just going to use an old 4-9 volt with an alligator clip and small glass. I've downloaded a few set-ups to see what may work best.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
695 Posts |
Is it possible, do you think, that this might have been a 'seal stone'? The ancient Mesopotamians, for example, came up with a way to protect their valuables from theft.
They took small stones and carved one-of-a-kind designs into them. The stones,when rolled across wax or soft clay that later hardened,formed an imprint that marked a piece of property and uniquely identified its owner.
Is there any appearance of a design on your 'stone'?
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
805 Posts |
Aiglet7: In the bronze area there appears to be five quare holes, evenly spaced. It's hard to see it in the pic because of glare but the five holes are actually in an "I" pattern. There are several more similar holes in the silvery part. Very strange looking, it's hard to tell but there are some lines in the silvery part as well. It looks like the stone has been broken in half and then gouged out and square holes stamped into it. Maybe I'm reading too much into a rock!
Edited by steve123
02/09/2013 6:42 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
695 Posts |
Perhaps we both are reading to much into your piece of stone - but, in this hobby, we have to explore every possibility!
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Its possible - but I strongly doubt it. Looks like a run of the mill stone to me.
Seals are usually well made - I speak as someone who has a family seal. It would have to be quite detailed to be a proper seal - even cuniform script would be quite obvious.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
To my eyes, it has the appearance of quartz with possibly a hematite vein (which could affect weight).
Quartz takes a high polish even in nature, as seen around the holes, which are pretty common in quartz too.
If it were a seal stone, we would see lot of very apparent, engraving and geometric shapes.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
805 Posts |
Heard back from the dealer. "Looks like a rock" LOL This is probably the most attention I have ever given to a rock! To the driveway with it. Thanks everyone!  |
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Replies: 14 / Views: 1,694 |
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Posted 02/09/2013 5:16 pm
