Happy Friday everyone, we made it! Today the clouds aligned perfectly for me, and I was able to free Hercules from his plastic tomb: Maximian 287–305 A.D. follis RIC VI 31b (haven't even weighed and measured yet!) NGC 4935642-001 (take a look and see why I broke him and her as it were out of their tomb) Also, I'd love to hear any tricks you all have for taking pictures of silver washed coins. While I've had some success treating them like a silver coin in terms of exposure, it still looks rather chalky and not representative of the coin: DIOCLETIAN (284-305). Follis. Siscia. IMP DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG with Laureate head right. SACRA MONET AVGG ET CAESS NOSTR / Γ / star SIS Moneta standing left, holding scales and cornucopia. RIC 131a 30mm 10.09g Galerius as Caesar 293–311 A.D. follis Ric VI 30b (this one looks so good...) Diocletian 284-305 A.D. follis RIC 524a I Severus II 306–307 A.D. follis RIC VI 25b Maximian 287–305 A.D. follis RIC 31b Since I love these late Roman Tetrarchy types it's important to me that I get better at it! I'd love to see your tetrarchy, silvered or hear of any of your photo tips. BTW, the above was zero post-production I know that's another way to get the silver looking, well Silver..., but I know there are probably some ways with camera settings I can get close. Thanks, and happy Friday to all once again.
Shogun, You've posted a handsome group of nummi ! One thing you should keep in mind is the longer a silvered nummus is exposed to the natural air we breathe the darker the coin will become, like the first coin you posted. The same thing holds true for nummi that are kept in safe-flips. The open part of the safe-flip will tone the coin in that area. I like to keep silvered nummi is slabs to prevent them from turning grey/black. As far as photographing them, all my shots were taken in diffused sunlight. Pictured below are examples from my collection. Nummi that have kept most of their silvering are rare. The last three coins have lost most of their silvering, especially the last two.
Silvered coins are not all that different than silver coins until they get a little wear and become 'part silvered' coins. Those resist my efforts to photograph. In general, I try to keep the light soft. I wish I would remember not to buy them. Diocletian with too little or too much silver:
Case in point: Constantine I ("the Great") A.D. 307-337 Cyzicus mint, A.D. 307 RIC 26b Obv: FL VAL CONSTANTINVS NOB CAES Rev: GENIO AVGG ET - CAESARVM NN - Genius, with modius on head and chlamys on shoulders, holding patera and cornucopiae. KA in exergue; ✳ in right field. 27 x 29 mm, 10.1 g.