NEWP: AE2 Falling Horseman

I've collected a handful of FH AE3's, as most of you have as well, but I've been looking to snipe a cheap AE2 with strong details, and this morning I succeeded. This is the seller's pic, which appears to be a scan, but the coin has great sand patina, and it was very carefully cleaned - none of those ugly long scratches that you see so often on coins with desert patinas.

Anyway, this is one is a nice size at 24mm, 5.76g...



Will post a better pic when I get it.

 

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That's a beautiful FH type. As you say, strong details and great patina.

 

Great addition! I was a hair away from bidding in this one myself

 

Sweet coin JA, great details, sandy patina awesome...

 

I think I recognize that patina. Might want to keep it away from alcohol or other solvents...

 

Care to explain?

 

It looks like wax or colored material. I could be wrong... but I think I recognize that seller's typical patina. It would be interesting to see if the yellowish color comes off with alcohol or acetone.

 

Ok, I'll give it a bath and see what happens. I'm not familiar with this seller, though - first time I've bought from him. There's always a chance you're getting fake dirt when you buy coins with desert patinas, but I think this image is a scan, and scans always come out funky. We'll see...

 

This coin seems also of desert patina, though of lesser grade. I'm not sure of the Emperor's name. Usually it's Constantius the Second.

 

There was a store at VCoins that was making fake desert patinas and selling the coins at a really high price. Holyland, aka Ripoffland which got removed from VCoins.

 

This is the first I've heard of it. Can you elaborate? Did someone get outed, here, or at FORVM, or elsewhere?

 

There are still fake patinas after Holyland departed. I'm sure I have some but am not willing to clean every coin I have to be sure. The question is just what can you do to a coin that will certainly attack a fake desert patina and not change any real one?

 

Huh, news to me too. Got my Crispina/Hilaritas coin from that dealer, decent price compared to sold ebays at the time too.

That sucks.

 

My AE2 of this type! I love the whole FEL TEMP series but this one always looks so damn Roman! Just nailing that guy before he has a chance to hit the dirt!

 

I have my suspicions with other sellers, in particular one from Spain.

And this is why I haven't tried to clean any of my coins with a desert patina, beyond a soak in distilled water. What if I end up removing ancient dirt? And just how would I be any wiser - how would I know I removed some modern dirt as opposed to ancient?

 

Does acetone or rubbing alcohol adversely affect a genuine desert patina? Perhaps that would be a safe thing to try.

Maybe just gently prying the patina with a fingernail will be revealing:

If nothing comes off --> genuine patina, or superglued dirt?
If the patina is soft and greasy/waxy--> wax, makeup, etc

 

More thoughts on fake patinas...

I'm not completely opposed to "enhanced" bronze patinas but worry about what the applied substances may do to the underlying metal. That's the bigger concern.

 

I have a few coins in my collection that I've had suspicions about. What I've done is soak them in distilled water and tried to pry some of the dirt off with a toothpick. The dirt didn't budge, and I didn't feel like taking stronger measures. I don't think acetone or mineral spirits would remove a real patina, but they likely would remove the dirt, be it natural or artificial. And again, exactly HOW would I know the difference?

 

You know, when I buy a coin like the OP coin it's mostly because I like the aesthetics of the particular coin . In this case, it's the desert patina highlighting the details of the coin. Without the patina, real or fake, the coin is just an everyday FH type and perhaps the details will not be as sharp. IMHO leave it alone. You liked it enough to buy it why take the chance. If you THINK it may be fake patina, don't buy from this particular seller again.

Let me repeat. It is my opinion to LEAVE IT ALONE!!! Of course, everyone has an opinion.......

 

I think you should leave it alone as well.

It was awhile back about Holyland, I can't remember the exact details of it. There were a few suspect coins and then one in particular that was purchased from CNG, and was being sold at Holyland with a desert patina. Both coins were compared and debated on for some time. For the life of me, I can't remember which coin.