A super busy personal life has kept me off CT for the most part as of late. But in preparing for a presentation next Tuesday I have a question that brought me back. Does the blackened area at the 1 o'clock - 2 o'clock area of this half-shekel's reverse look like fire-caused damage? Maybe black silver oxide? (Note that the blackened area is only on the reverse and edge.) Tyrian-style AR half-shekel, (Tyre? Jerusalem?). Dated CY 142 (AD 16/7). Obv.: Laureate head of Melkart, right. Rev.: Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond in background; to left, PMB (date) above club; to right, KP above monogram; ‘A’ (in Phoenician) between legs. Weight: 6.86 g. Diam.: 20.1 mm. Attrib.: HGC 10, 358. DCA-Tyre 849. Notes: aVF/VF, off-center obverse, toning, slight bluish-iridescent areas, corrosion or fire damage on reverse rim @1-2 o’clock, some earthen deposits on reverse, ex-Rosenblum family of Ramat-Gan, purchased from Deutsch Archaeological Center (Sept. 2015), photographed by Denis Richard. Here is a close-up of the area in question: I've noticed from online sources that ancient coins with fire damage manifest a variety of effects. Thoughts on this one? I'd love to see posts of any fire-damaged ancient silver coins you may have. - Russell Atherton / Philologus_1
Maybe. If it was a modern coin, I'd say yes, but with an ancient that spent centuries or millennia in the ground, it could be some kind of chemical/environmental interaction, as you mentioned. I will say that it doesn't bother me, and I find the coin and its toning quite attractive.
Great coin! I have no idea whether or not it's actually fire damage, but it would make a great story. Especially since these coins were used to pay the temple tax, who knows? it might even be from the fire that destroyed the Temple and Jerusalem in AD 70.
I agree with lordmarcovan, a very nice coin despite the damage. It very well could be burned. It has some of the same characteristics as a few burned modern coins I have. Bruce
Wow, now that's a fascinating thing to think about! Speaking of historical heat, this coin owned by @AncientJoe is my favorite coin that doesn't belong to me.
And THAT is precisely my point of interest!!! :-D However, I'm not going to allow myself to get all verklempt and allow myself to exhibit paredolia to the point of claiming it's a burnt coin when it ain't. ;-) (Tagging: @Randy Abercrombie)
I lightened the RAW file for this image to better see the area in question. It looks like something is melted onto it.
Not an exciting answer, but it looks like corrosion; especially as the obverse is fine. The reverse was in contact with something metallic.
