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 Replies: 13 / Views: 1,214 |
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
287 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
They look very fragile, be careful! All of them can be IDed at this point, but thats up to you. Start looking at Tesorillo and scanning wildwinds and you'll quickly be able to recognise people.
They all look like they could get better through cautious cleaning except no.3 which id take out now. The whole legend is on it, so its a good one to start with. Try starting with the Partial Legend search engine on Wildwinds and then look up the different legends for the various Constan* emperors (tricky thing to get a hang of).
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Looks like the first few are Constans.
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Valued Member
 United Kingdom
287 Posts |
Thanks ben, I have tried to ID the 3rd (which is now safely added to my collection) I have got as far as this: http://www.tesorillo.com/aes/107/107i.htmWould you agree with this? Also, from this page, how would I be able to specifically say 'this coin is....' ? |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
From Tesorillo you can simply give the legends and mint. I tend to go to Wildwinds or Helvetica if possible to get full IDs and references. You've got th ecorrect reverse design, and I'm guessing you've worked out the emperor, so go to that emperor's Wildwinds Page and see if its listed there. If not, find the RIC Spreadsheet for it, on which it will be listed.
(ive checked, its not on Wildwinds). I have the full ID, but ill give you the opportunity to find it.
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
287 Posts |
I think I may be wrong, but the closest I could find?
Siscia
RIC VIII 184 Constans. AE4. Siscia. CONSTAN-S PF AVG, rosette-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right / VICTORIAE DD AVGG Q NN, two victories facing each other with wreaths and palms. Mintmark dot DSIS dot. RIC VIII Siscia 184 var (mintmark unlisted for Constans).
I am guessing its wrong, but I would appreciate you letting me know if certain bits make the coin different?
Cheers
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
All correct except the mintmark. Yours is (dot)GSIS(dot) - that r is a greek Gamma. If you go to this website (this is Helvetica's website) and go to the correct spreadsheet, you'll be able to get the proper ID and other info like rarity. |
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
287 Posts |
Constans CONSTAN-S PF AVG ROSDC VICTORIAE DD AVGGQ NN dot gamma SIS dot Siscia RIC VIII Siscia 185 c2 16-17 mm
Think I got it this time?
Wow, its quite tricky, but I can see once I am familiar with a few bits, I should be able to do quite quickly :) Thank you!
I will start researching what all of it means now, once of course you can confirm I got the correct match in the end?
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Yeup, all correct! Pretty good for the first try (I had no idea when I started, I thought I had a Johannes). The major issue I found was reading the legend and knowing ht edesigns (I only found Tesorillo much much later).
Good luck finding out what it all means. Its a minefield.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1569 Posts |
 Ben is pretty much an authority on his own when it comes to ancient coins that are uncleaned. There is not much to add except use the sites that the guys here provide in links and such, they are invaluable. You will never soar like an eagle if you hang around with turkeys.....
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4981 Posts |
3 and 6 look like they could be very fragile patina wise, be careful on you second round.
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
287 Posts |
Quick couple of questions,
How hard/ gently should I be brushing them with the toothbrush?
Also, the green you see on some coins,especially 3, is this the patina? or is this damage?
Also, you can see a red coming through, again, is this damage or patina?
Is there a chance that coin 3 may have been brushed too hard?
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Brushing depends on the strength of the patina or encrustation. For a weak patina, be very very gentle.
The green is under the patina and is some form of corrosion - you push a pin into that (dont) it will all flake off. Make sure to dry the coin (try baking it in the oven).
Red being bronze, this is damage. Sometimes theres red encrustations (clay is the worst). The other thing is iron oxide and other metal oxides which are caused by impurities in the metal. Often on silver its corrosion, but on coins like Ptolemy monsters, its more likely tin or iron compounds.
For coin 3, if it started all black, then yes, brushed too hard. Often they come out of the ground like this, in which case its just a matter of being careful. After a couple of hundred coins, you'll start spotting which ones are weak and be able to use appropriate force on it.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
Until you are more familiar with cleaning only ever brush gently. When you have cleaned a good any coins, you will recognise when you can add more pressure. You have to be very, very patient. When you are ready, move up to a toothpick. You will be able to recognise the dirt from the patina, and whether the patina is fragile.
You can always go back to a coin and resoak and clean if you don't overdo it in the first place. I use a scalpel and stereo microscope, but then I have cleaned a fair few. I always start with a soak and toothbrush. Patience is your friend here.
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Replies: 13 / Views: 1,214 |
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Posted 02/16/2014 1:04 pm
