Green on Siglos

Hi Guys!

Another question for the experts here at cointalk:

I bought a siglos from Savoca Coins that showed up in the mailbox yesterday. It arrived with some green crust on it, mostly on the edge and in the incuse, that wasn't visible in the photos.

I understand that sigloi are supposed to be something like 97% silver, so is it possible that this is patina or BD on the remaining 3%, or is it more likely that I'm looking at a fourree?

Savoca has a good return policy but I was excited about the coin and hope this works out. That said, I probably wouldn't have bought the coin if the green had been visible in the photo...

 

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Any chance you have a picture we can see? Green is usually not BD even on bronzes and on silver coins can indicate that it was in a hoard next to some copper/bronze coins or any number of other things. Could also just be green toning.

 

Without pictures we can be of no help. The 1/6 siglos below is obviously fourree with plenty of green on the exposed copper (this is not bronze disease). This is not the only answer but it is one to check. Silver coins buried with copper coins can get surface deposits of copper which then can turn green. Copper on the outside is completely different from copper on the inside.

 

Here are some photos.. and I just want to clarify I only mentioned Savoca because I know they have a good reputation and so didn't think I was being cheated or anything. I've bought from them in the past and been very happy.

 

Here's the seller photo. If you squint you can see where it may have some green.

 

I also just realized that I have a better idea of what most of your guys' hands and fingers look like than I do your faces.

 

The Copper on the OP coin is a deposit, similar to my fine silver Buddha coin.


Unlike Doug's underlying copper core exposure. I think the deposits on the OP coin give it character.

 

yeah, you're good there hoth.

 

Sweet--good to hear. So this is probably a deposit from being next to bronze coins?

 

Bronze copper alloy anything, pot, jar, chest, coins....whatever.

 

Excellent--thanks guys! Every day on this forum is an education.

 

I agree but the style is not like the ordinary types so I would be interested in hearing what an expert in the series has to say about it. That is an exceptional face, beard and decoration of the robe. I have to wonder if there were several mints for these but I have not read a good study on them.

 

I'm glad you said that Doug because I've been having some trouble IDing it. The closest I've found is type IV C on this page:

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=siglos

but the chest doesn't quite match..