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 Replies: 11 / Views: 2,506 |
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Valued Member
200 Posts |
I have these coins: The first coin obverse is: DN VALENTINIANVS PF AVG. Minted between 364-375. The second one reverse is: GLORIA ROMANORVM, emperor advancing right dragging captive with right hand and holding labarum in left. The first character of the mint mark is a dot. If I am right, only three mint started mint mark with dot: Aqulieia, Siscia and Thessalonica. These mints produced this type between 364-375 in the name of Gratian, Valentinian I. and Valens. The coins are melted. The melting point of bronze varies depending on the ratio of the alloy components and is about 950 °C. I think these coins are melted when the Quadi and Sarmatians invade Pannonia in 374. "In 373, hostilities erupted with the Quadi, a group of Germanic-speaking people living on the upper Danube. Like the Alamanni, the Quadi were outraged that Valentinian was building fortifications in their territory. They complained and sent deputations that were ignored by the magister armorum per Illyricum Aequitius. However, by 373 the construction of these forts was behind schedule. Maximinus, now praetorian prefect of Gaul, arranged with Aequitius to promote his son Marcellianus and put him in charge of finishing the project. The protests of Quadic leaders continued to delay the project, and in a fit of frustration Marcellianus murdered the Quadic king Gabinius at a banquet ostensibly arranged for peaceful negotiations. This roused the Quadi to war; along with their allies the Sarmatians. During the fall, they crossed the Danube and began ravaging the province of Pannonia Valeria. The marauders could not penetrate the fortified cities, but they heavily damaged the unprotected countryside."    |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
What a neat theory. Are you certain they are melted, Baltas, and not just fused, corroded, and encrusted? I know that occasionally hoard coins are fused, as are coins salvaged from shipwrecks. Very cool acquisition...congrats.
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Valued Member
 200 Posts |
Thank you!
Yes, I am sure they are melted, for example there are bubbles on the emperors face.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4963 Posts |
Although I think your theory is interesting, I don't think the coins are melted. Like Bob said, they are probably just fused together. The 'bubbles' may just be from corrosion. I just think that if the coins were melted, there would be more damage to other devices.
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
I agree not melted but fused together by the melts corroding.
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Moderator
United States
34428 Posts |
@baltas, cool pair of coins--thanks for sharing! You might be able to non-destructively make a determination by putting this into an ultrasonic cleaner. If that rattles them apart, then it was encrustation. If they stay together, then it might be melting. Obviously, be careful not to ruin the coins just to figure out the answer...
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Valued Member
200 Posts |
I cleaned a bit the "bubbles" and there are bronze-colored surface (over than the original surface of the coin). What do you think? I have fused coins also (medieval silver) and another melted (medieval and roman).    |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4963 Posts |
Looking at the edge, I think they are just fused with some crud filling the crack.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4971 Posts |
interesting! I have no idea what is up with those coin. I did have some fused Chinese coins....  from the side view it's obvious they were stuck together with sediment (found in a river according to seller)...  maybe a blacksmith was fooling around with your coins? Edited by chrsmat71
06/09/2016 12:27 am
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Valued Member
200 Posts |
Thanks for the comments! I still think the coins are melted. I am not sure they are melted with each other, but I can see the effect of heat on the surface. (I cleaned a lot of LRB-s before and I had only fused coins also!)
If you are interested, I can show you my other melted and fused coins.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Quote:
If you are interested, I can show you my other melted and fused coins. Yes, please do. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
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Replies: 11 / Views: 2,506 |
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Posted 06/07/2016 6:20 pm
