Ancients: Group Lot Fun!

Sorry for the delay. Here is the Trajan. I had to retake the pictures because the first ones I took were not very good at all. I haven't quite figured out the full attribution.

This is what it was listed as on the CNG listings: Cyrenaica, Cyrene. Trajan. Æ 25mm

Besides that it is:
Obv. Laureate bust of Trajan right, slight drapery
Rev. Horned head of Zeus-Ammon right.

I do not know the full legends though.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I think the full attribution is:
Arabia Petraea, Bostra. Trajan. A.D. 98-117. COS 5 (A.D. 103-111). Laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder / DHMARX EX UPAT T E, Head of Zeus-Ammon right. Kindler 5; BMC p. 59, 112 (Caesarea).

 

I sent the Augustus away to have the unattractive toning cleaned by someone with a steadier hand than me and am very pleased with how it turned out. One thing does worry me though. After it was cleaned it unveiled the bumps you can see in the picture. I haven't seen this in similar coins and am curious on other peoples thoughts.

 

The bumps are interesting. I will be watching for the answer.

 

Such things are why I usually leave coins alone if I am ok with how they look. I am not a fan of cleaning them up if they are acceptable to me, since these aer 2000 year old objects. There really is no way of knowing what is underneath the dirt/patina once you remove it. I have seen a lot worst under ugly toning.

 

Normally I am in the same camp but I couldn't stand the toning on this one but I really liked the design of the coin.

Personally I don't mind the bumps nearly as much as the toning but I am more worried it of modern make than a 2000 year old object and I would rather cleaning revealing the coin a fake than going blissfully ignorant for the rest of my life.

 

Are you making fun of me or what?

 

Looking at the original "patina", and the result without, I'm wondering if the coin couldn't have been in a fire at some point

 

i'm interested as well.

 

Interesting page on fire damage, some of the coins pictured shows similar lumps...

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Forum Fire Hoard

 

This could be the result of fire damage or it could be that the coin is fouree and the bubbles are where the plating has blown away from the core. I am leaning towards the fouree.

 

If I were voting, I would go for fire. To know, the coin needs to be cut in half.
Yours truly, King Solomon

 

The most common thought amongst forums I am seeing is that it is a fourree as I originally suspected but wasn't sure. Regardless I am happy with Mr. Spock and he will find his place amongst my other coins.