Was A Nice Constantine

jessvc1:

Ancient copper coins can be quite delicate, as you have just found.

The 'surface' patination can sometimes go right through the coin, and in some cases it is hard to know if the coin has a metallic core, or just a core of a metallic compounds.

You must remember that the poor thing has probably been buried for over 1000 years!

We all know of other buried copper objects that have advanced corrosion after much shorter periods, and can assume that in some cases have completely corroded away, never to be seen again.

Wouldn't have hurt for your friend to have showed them over a carpeted floor or while sitting on a sofa or something. Too bad that happened.

I have a tiny Anastasius I bought a long time ago, but when it arrive via the USPS it was broken in not just two large pieces, but several very small pieces. I suppose the envelope went through and automatic sorter that caused the damage. The seller refunded my money and told me to keep the remnants. I still have the largest pieces in a flip. Here are the images:



It is a Half Follis from Constantinople, SB 23:

OBV: D N ANASTASIVS P P AVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right
REV: Large K - cross to left, Î" to right

Too bad for the damage, but I keep it anyway.

JW

jessvc1:

I never thought about using super glue. If you do, use a high build type, but I think that type has a longer setting time.

That is not going to cost you very much, and it certainly will not detract any further from it's value.

Go for it!

Just think how the two pieces can be aligned. Great care will be needed. I am thinking that it can be tacked together, with the tiniest drop from a pin, so there no excess, then slightly more added later.

When finished, put it in a 2x2, with the smallest window size to show the coin only, and no more. I would four staples for stiffness.

thanks for all the input, looks like I will be buying some superglue soon. I will post the coin when I am finished. thanks again much appreciated.

What are the value of cracked coins in relation to regular, non-cracked coins. Lower, I'm guessing? And when I say cracked I mean split into two pieces like that Constantine.

I think this happens to everyone who collects non-modern coins. I have a little Indian coin, Satavahana; made of lead. I received it as a gift from a friend in India. When I took it out of the mailer envelope, it had cracked into two pieces. I was able to put them together again and the coin looks alright in the 2x2, but if you look closely you can still see the crack.