Sap, I agree, Macedonia, Heracles obverse, club reverse, time of Alexander the Great. These small bronzes can have different colored patinas, black, green, brown. In my opinion it could genuine, has a black patina but someone overcleaned it, taking the patina off the highlights exposing the bronze. Someone may have put a coating of lacquer on it thinking it would protect it. Some ancient coins have been treated with a protective coating especially if it has verdigris
Back in the 1980s I experimented with cleaning an ancient coin. It was all black and encrusted. I overcleaned it, stripped the patina off the highlights showing the metal underneath. Since then the exposed bronze has dulled. It's from Smyrna, Ionia, Apollo obverse, Homer seated reverse.

Back in the 1980s I experimented with cleaning an ancient coin. It was all black and encrusted. I overcleaned it, stripped the patina off the highlights showing the metal underneath. Since then the exposed bronze has dulled. It's from Smyrna, Ionia, Apollo obverse, Homer seated reverse.

Edited by livingwater
03/14/2025 07:13 am
03/14/2025 07:13 am