Broken Denarius

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by YoloBagels, Aug 11, 2018.

  1. YoloBagels

    YoloBagels Well-Known Member

    Hello everyone.
    So about a month ago, I bought a 3 coin lot of cull denarius. Two of them were ok and showed no sign of corrosion or anything like that, but this one Faustina Augusta denarius fast forward a month later; upon taken out of a 2x2 mylar, broke into two pieces.

    BrokenFavstina.jpg

    brokenfavstinacrack.jpg

    So I've researched a bit, looked at some of the older threads, and seen that people normally glue them together when broken. Someone said using gorilla glue would work, but I want to make sure it wont further damage the coin before I mess around with it.

    I basically got it at spot however. What should I do with it?
     
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  3. Deacon Ray

    Deacon Ray Artist & Historian Supporter

    I'd leave it as is and keep it for reference and experimentation.
     
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  4. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    I had a Limes denarius of Julia Domna arrive broken in the past. I received a refund and was told to keep the coin. I know some may feel agast, but I took a small amount of super glue on a toothpick, and placed to coin back together. As of last I checked, it's still holding.
    Julia Domna 8.jpg
     
  5. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    I have a fel temp reparatio type of Constantius II that broke on me during cleaning. I also used a bit of super glue to connect the pieces together. Apparently the corrosion had reached the center of the coin, weakening the metal. It is not a valuable coin so no big deal. If it was a Caesar denarius or something like that I probably would not glue it together.
     
  6. YoloBagels

    YoloBagels Well-Known Member

    Well this denarius is super common, and I bought it at basically melt price. I think Ill glue it tommorow probably.
     
  7. Jwt708

    Jwt708 Well-Known Member

    Melt? Ancients aren't typically described in those terms...do you know the purity of the silver?

    If it were mine I would likely glue it back together as Bing did, with a dot of super glue applied with a toothpick.
     
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  8. Valentinian

    Valentinian Well-Known Member

    Before you glue it back together, see if you can get some great photos of the interior. We 'd like to see what a cross section looks like when a coin is fragile enough to break. If you could photograph it though a microscope with good power, that would be interesting.
     
  9. ycon

    ycon Renaissance Man

    Don't glue it with gorilla glue-- it's too yellow. I make a lot of jewelry which requires gluing pearls/stones to silver. You should use e-poxy, but use the 3-ton instead of the 5-minute, because again, it yellows much less.
     
  10. YoloBagels

    YoloBagels Well-Known Member

    I'll post better pics tommorow when I get a new phone. The one I have now is very low quality/old.
     
  11. YoloBagels

    YoloBagels Well-Known Member

    Ok, I have some clear crafting glue from hobby lobby. I'll look more into the epoxy; and I figured gorilla glue would be too yellow as well.
     
  12. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    At this point, I think it comes down to personal preference whether you want to glue it back together or leave it as it is.

    More importantly, if your Mylar 2x2s are those cardboard holders, they really are the devil. I’ve always disliked them, and last month, I broke an Arados tetrobol trying to get it out of its old 2x2 cardboard holder. It was too crystallized to withstand even the little bit of pressure I had inadvertently applied on it. I've left it broken.

    My only broken coin that's been glued back together came to me that way. I've no idea what was used to repair it, but as you can see it was no professional job. Considering the coin is a teeny-tiny 8mm, I guess the results (and damage) could have been worse.

    Thessaly Pherai - Hemiobol Dog.jpg
    THESSALY, Pherai
    Very Rare. Small portion of edge broken and repaired. AR Hemiobol. 0.27g, 8.3mm. THESSALY, Pherai, circa 360s-350s BC. BCD Thessaly II 694; HGC 4, 563; Imhoof-Blumer 1908, p. 93, 277, pl. VI, 38; cf. Nomos 4, 1306 corr. O: Head of Ennodia right: R: Φ - E, hunting dog sitting right.
    Ex BCD Collection
     
  13. YoloBagels

    YoloBagels Well-Known Member

    Oh definitely. I was actually breaking it out because I wanted it in one of those 2x2 mylar non-cardboard flips. I was also going to scrape some of the crystalization off.
     
  14. YoloBagels

    YoloBagels Well-Known Member

    Idk how good these pictures are but I hope it helps

    Brokencoin1.jpg Brokencoin2.jpg
     
    ominus1, TIF, zumbly and 3 others like this.
  15. Valentinian

    Valentinian Well-Known Member

    Thanks for the interesting photos.
     
  16. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    oho.. boy, i do know that feeling..this one was cracked and when i opened the cardboard holder..TWO pieces came and went to pieces..i knew it was cracked when i bought it, the good Dr. let me send it back and refunded me, but i've never really gotten over it..now i buy coins that have pieces broken off of them( the more expensive types anyway)with no problem, but that deal almost sent me over the edge..:eek: broke! trajan concordia 001.JPG broke! trajan concordia 004.JPG
     
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