Although this coin is rather common, I couldn't pass it up mainly because of the color of the patina (black and red), but the price was right as well. I wanted to wait to post it until it arrived to be sure the color was correct. It is as you see it. I had a dickens of a time taking a photo. Because it is so dark, it didn't look right on a dark background. Maximianus AE Antoninianus OBV: IMP C M AVR VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, radiate cuirassed bust right REV: IOV ET HERCV CONSER AVGG, Jupiter standing right holding sceptre & orb facing Hercules standing left holding Victory & club, S in lower centre, XXI dot in ex. Struck at Antioch, 286-95 AD 4.3g, 22mm RIC 622 crescent S
They say the only place you will find red sand is in Syria. So I guess there are local minerals causing the red color which somehow has colored ancient bronzes. What is also interesting is the combination of black and red patina. However, I have no explanation for the black patina.
