This is a topic I thought might be interesting to discuss, since there are certainly members who can shed some light on an issue with which I have little experience. Recently I came across the following coin in an upcoming auction, and e-mailed my dealer to get his opinion on it: Part of his response was that the coin was "too sharp" and showed evidence of smoothing and sharpening of details. Although smoothing isn't necessarily bad, sharpening/tooling is off limits for any coins that I wish to collect. However, I can't really see the sharpening that my dealer sees so easily. About the only evidence of tooling that I can see is on the obverse legend, in the "TR POT" part (at 3 o'clock) that appears to be artificially enhanced, especially the "P" and "O" Other than that, it isn't clear to me that this coin has been tooled. While the portrait does appear to be very sharp, I don't actually see the areas that have been sharpened/tooled. What does everyone else see in this coin? What am I missing?
I am by no means an expert on ancients, however, tooling is tooling. the areas that draw my attention is the wreath above the ear and some surrounding high/low ( peaks and valley ) in the hair itself and maybe on the reverse the area above the crest of the helmet and maybe a little around the midabdominal. I am not sure of course, as all of us are working from a photograph, but I agree with your dealer's comment " Looks too sharp". Sometimes the eye detects what is hard for one to isolate or articulate well. Like looking at a person with a face lift~ parts look much different from the rest. If the auction is well known , you might inquire as to their interpretation. If an eBay type, then ask the question with the "question for seller box" and if the answer doesn't convince you, bid accordingly or not at all IMO. Also sometimes, photoshop type programs are used to enhance the contrast, and that makes it appears like tooling/smoothing has occurred. Jim
