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 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,791 |
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
106 Posts |
Hi all, I have had this Constantine I coin for several years and had left it as I got it (dirty) I believe it also has bronze disease but the green that covered the coin almost intirely just wiped off with the cotton bud. I recently decided to give it a clean so left it to soak in olive oil. I got it out this evening and gave it a clean with a cotton bud. (To my horror) there were these tiny silver blobs around the obverse, mainly to the left of his head and around his shield. They are tiny but almost shiny. My question is have I been done over? I'm gutted as I really like the obverse of this one and the detail on his helmet. It weighs 2g and is 18mm so they fit well with AE3, but these silver blobs have kind of crushed me a bit #128553; also, if it is a fake, why have they come up a shiny silver opposed to just a dark cast pitting? Thanks all. I'll wait with baited breath for your help. &     Edited by FuzzyDuck
05/03/2020 3:14 pm
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Valued Member
 United Kingdom
106 Posts |
Someone (not from this sight) has suggested it could be from the Bronze disease and to see if the silver blobs come out using a tooth pick
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1120 Posts |
I doesn't look like a fake to me and if it does have BD, well you can't fake that. The specs of silver could be what remains of the original silvering on the coin. I have one have these with a green patina and some silver flakes still remaining on the coin.
But, I've been wrong before so hopefully others will chime in about authenticity.
Edited by travelcoin
05/03/2020 5:05 pm
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
106 Posts |
Thanks for your reply. I'm going to put it in distilled water and give it a gentle brush every few days to see if it clears and then bake it to stop it from going any further
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Valued Member
Germany
141 Posts |
Hi!
If you suspect of it being a cast fake, check the edges under magnification for casting signs, filing, etc.
You can try with a toothpick or some hard thorn if available to see if one or the silver blobs can come off.
Actually the coin doesn´t look fake to me just from looking at these pictures.
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
106 Posts |
Hi Dirtyharry, I have given the edge a good inspection and can't see any obvious signs, although I am still finding it really difficult to identify fakes. I've done loads of reading on it, just don't seem as eagle eyed as others :/
As for trying to remove the blobs, I did have a go and they came off relatively easily, however as it dried more seemed to appear. I think my best option is to treat it for BD and then see how it looks a bit later down the line.
I actually bought it listed as a licinius, but upon cleaning became very obvious it wasn't, but that wasn't important to me anyway.
Thanks for your help
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
It looks like environment damage IMO.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Quote:
The specs of silver could be what remains of the original silvering on the coin.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1120 Posts |
I would not try to remove the "silver blobs" as it becomes a great talking point and it gives the coin great character.
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,791 |
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Posted 05/03/2020 5:03 pm
