NEWP: Urbs Roma, Romulus and Remus

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Little bit of schmutz on an otherwise gorgeous coin. Do you think I should try to clean it?

 

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I wouldn't try to clean it until you have more experience. Its not very distracting.

Nice wolf and twins. The key to this series is the marks in between the two stars on the reverse. There are tons of varieties of control marks there.

My favorite wolf and twins reverse is an Ostrogothic coin I own, minted in Rome after the western Empire fell.

 

I wish you could post pics, Chris - do you at least have a scan of the the Ostrogothic?

 

Its is real good shape. I have a few of these but they are in far worse condition. I would worry more about what might be verdigris than the schmutz...

 

Well, that's what I mean by schmutz - those couple of green patches have me worried. The brownish discoloration in the field to the right of Roma is ok in my book. But I'm concerned about the health of the coin - I wouldn't clean it unless it was absolutely necessary. I like the overall character.

 

Ditto.

 

Verdicare to get it stopped from spreading. Apply some to the spot, let it sit for an hour, and wipe off with an old white tshirt.

Our member BadThad might know something about the product. I always have a bottle on hand. Sorry I missed that green spot might be verdigris.

 

OK, thank you. Will do. Verdicare won't actually remove the green spots though, will it? It just arrests the chemical reaction?

 

Here is a link to one that looks VERY close to mine, but maybe a touch nicer. I got mine in a lot of Byzantine bronzes I got once.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...v=2&tbm=isch&um=1&itbs=1&sa=X&ved=0CDIQrQMwBA

 

That's a nice coin - considerably bigger at 25mm. It continues to amaze me how engravers managed to put so much detail in pieces as small as an AE3. Talk about microsurgery. I'm also surprised you don't see a woodpecker in the R&R coins - wasn't he an integral part of the legend?

 

I think what is really amazing about the URBS ROMA coins is that they were struck at mints throughout the empire on a scale that had not been attempted before or afterwards for a long long time. Sometime in the future I think it would be fascinating to collect as many different examples from around the empire as possible. Sure the Greeks made commemorative coins for events, Olympic games, battles won etc - but not nearly approaching the scale of the URBS ROMA issue.

 

I recently acquired one of these. It's not my first nor is it my best, but it has a very well detailed reverse. Trier Mint:

 

That reverse strike is incredible, Bing - The she-wolf's facial features are much better than mine.

 

Thanks. That was the reason I bought this one. Like I said,m I have others, but I liked this reverse and the price was right.

 

There is a lot of difference in these mint to mint. Notice how young Roma looks on the first.

 

I love that first coin with the child Roma. Very interesting

 

I've noticed that the portrait of Roma changes more dramatically in character than the she-wolf/twins.

 

Here's another that I'm considering for unusual eye-appeal - the engraving, flan shape, patina...

 

Here is another of mine from Siscia:

RIC VII 240

 

That one's fantastic, Bing. Great strike and pristine surfaces. Great find!