It's been a long time since I made a new post for new additions to my ancient coins collection. I've slowly been adding a few lately. Below is one of them. I own very few Sestertii. But, I was glad to get this one. Clodius Albinus (193 - 195 A.D.) AE Sestertius O: D CL SEPT ALBIN CAES, bare head right. R: FORT REDVCI COS II / SC, Fortuna seated left, holding rudder and cornucopiae, wheel below. Rome Mint 194-195 AD 15.62g RIC IV 53a; BMCRE 533; cf. Cohen 32
Beautiful coin - I have had success with bronzes by putting a small bit of oil on them. I was just talking to a dealer - he uses 4 in one oil - I use olive oil - he said he would be concerned about olive oil for obvious reasons but I have coins in my collection where I did it over 22 years ago and all is ok. It darkens the patina a bit but it also evens the patina and the details come out strongly. This is entirely up to you of course. To me it is just a way of cleaning a coin. I wish I had a before and after to show you but the results can be ridiculously good and I have never had bad results and done it many times. But again it does darken the patina.
Thanks for the reply and suggestion. I've never heard of putting olive oil on these bronzes. Just Ren Wax. I'd be hesitant to use olive oil and really, I am content with the way it is.
Fair enough - next time I do it I should post a before and after. In the first instance I could hardly make out the details on the coin since the patina was so patchy. I used olive oil simply because I was too lazy to search the basement for anything else - I had a feeling it would work. It was a risk but the results were absolutely incredible, but your coin is nowhere near what the coin looked like the first time I tried it - over 20 years ago - jeez, it had to be around 2002 or 2003. Time does fly.
Excellent, @Mat . Am I wrong, but is it more difficult to get Clodius’ sestertius? Cool. CLODIUS ALBINUS RI Clodius Albinus 193-197 CE AR Denarius ROMAE AETERNAE Roma seated
I believe so. I do have a denarius of his. Clodius Albinus (193 - 195 A.D.) AR Denarius O: D CL SEPT ALBIN CAES, bare head right. R: MINER PACIF COS II, Minerva standing front, head left, holding a spear and leaning on a shield. Rome Mint 3.21g 19mm RIC 7, RSC 48, RCV 6144, BMC 98
