Beginning To Understand The Importance Of Patina.

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Author	Replies: 9 / Views: 1,173
MetDet71 Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 1569 Posts	Posted 08/12/2014 1:53 pm First off, the pictures do not show how gorgeous this coin looks! Though I have a fair amount of coins, it is not often that when looking through them I stop on one and have the need to feel it and ogle it before moving on. This is a pretty standard coin of Antoninus Pius but the tone it has is beautiful and I would (personally) pay more of a premium for this rather than a more detailed example that looks 'brassy'. Only sorry that I can't seem to catch the true colour on camera.. You will never soar like an eagle if you hang around with turkeys..... Report this Post to the Staff

FVRIVS RVFVS Pillar of the Community United States 3446 Posts	Posted 08/12/2014 2:36 pm I believe it is Marcus ! Yes a beautiful and thick patina (especially unchipped) is something which adds a venerable and 'August' character to a coin which cannot be seen in an ancient which has been "cleaned to the bone". Report this Post to the Staff
MetDet71 Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 1569 Posts	Posted 08/12/2014 3:11 pm Thanks Furius. It's something that up until now I wasn't really taking into account when putting a sale value on coins, doesn't matter much at the moment as I have stopped selling on the bay due do a huge disagreement with them. I do now regret selling some of the large Roman coins that I have had in the past, especially the ones with a deep green colour. You will never soar like an eagle if you hang around with turkeys..... Report this Post to the Staff
MetDet71 Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 1569 Posts	Posted 08/12/2014 3:17 pm Thank you for the correction! I saw oninus in the legend and looked no further. Marcus it is. You will never soar like an eagle if you hang around with turkeys..... Report this Post to the Staff
echizento Moderator United States 23731 Posts	Posted 08/12/2014 3:46 pm A beautiful rich dark patina gives the coin so much more charater and appeal and IMO enhances the details. Report this Post to the Staff
MetDet71 Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 1569 Posts	Posted 08/12/2014 4:07 pm Thanks Ron, I totally agree. You will never soar like an eagle if you hang around with turkeys..... Report this Post to the Staff
chuy1530 Pillar of the Community United States 513 Posts	Posted 08/12/2014 8:02 pm The patina really is part of the story of the coin, and for me in addition to the aesthetics (which are up to each individual to decide but I think most would agree that almost no coin is made better when stripped to brass) that's a really fun and important part of collecting and studying these coins. Report this Post to the Staff
FVRIVS RVFVS Pillar of the Community United States 3446 Posts	Posted 08/12/2014 8:57 pm I would not dismiss this as a common type either. If not mistaken it is Victory holding trophy with Armenian captive seated. The sestertius (RIC 890) commemorates the re annexation of Armenia into the empire by Marcus' co emperor Verus during his inebriated wine tasting tour whilst campaigning in the east against the Parthians. Verus soon after partied himself all the way up to the top of Mt Olympus. Assuming he didn't fall off the eagle on the way up ! I actually own the 'brother' to this one with Verus on the obv. and the identicle reverse. Co incidentally I purchased it because of a stunning glossy green patina. That and because the obv. legend boldly proclaimed the honorific ARMENIACVS. I have a good friend from Armenia who gets all hot and bothered when he sees that. Report this Post to the Staff
chrsmat71 Pillar of the Community United States 4980 Posts	Posted 08/12/2014 10:33 pm wonderful coin MD...love the patina on this one. Report this Post to the Staff
FVRIVS RVFVS Pillar of the Community United States 3446 Posts	Posted 08/13/2014 12:09 am My 'brother' from a different mother Lucius Verus - Victory holding trophy Armenian captive at feet Without the patina it would just be a "nice" mid grade sestertius ...... The lime green makes it one of my favorites. Report this Post to the Staff
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