Gilded Constantinopolis ?

Here's something I think is interesting. Gilded or "discolored" silvering ?

 

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Do you have it in hand? Very nice detail.

 

Yes, just got it... first coin of 2013 yawning

 

It looks like gold gilt to my admittedly inexperienced eyes. I've seen a few authentic-looking gilded bronzes for sale, but they're not common, and yours is absolutely beautiful.

 

do you have the means to test the metal w/o harming the coin? I've never heard of one these gilded, but, hey, there's a lot I've never heard before. :bangg:

 

Aside from the eBay pimps that gold-plate massive amounts of LRBs, I have seen a very few that were advertised as gilded by reputable dealers. So I'm assuming they know what they're talking about. I absolutely love the look of that piece - I'm green with envy in fact.

 

Unfortunately I do not have anything to test it. Never seen one like it either, even the silvered ones are not that common to my knowledge :scratch:

 

The silvered one are not uncommon. Do a search for "silvered" on vcoins and you'll get at least a hundred to choose from. Gold is another matter.

 

I meant these Constantinopolis commemorative Don't remember seeing much of them (currently only one on vcoins with "some" silvering).

 

OK, gotcha. Yeah, this is the first Contantinopolis that I've seen with an extra skin.

 

Could try acetone to see if its just toned silvering. Maybe just a drop in a small spot

 

Hmmmm... You think that the silver coating (if it is silvered) would react as if it were toned with acetone (e.g. "clear up") ?

 

I'm not sure I would try any strong chemicals. I think acetone might be too strong.

 

If not applied later, my guess would be environmental interaction with silvering to produce that color. I have seen silvering on other LRBs take on unusual looks due to storage conditions. Not common, but it happens.

If you like it, keep it the way it is.

 

I wouldn't mess with a coin that has that kind of eye-appeal. Ultimately, who cares whether it's silvering or gilt? If you treat it with anything, you might get an unsightly blemish and ruin your appreciation of it.

 

I do not think I would try anything that could possibly modify its look or damage the coating, but I'm still curious as to what it could really be. I've seen toned/colored/golden silvered coins but I must say that this one, in hand more than pictured, has quite impressive highlights. That said, the most credible (and natural) explanation remains the altered silvering :scratch:

 

Zapping it with an XRF would tell... Only need to get access to an XRF

 

Exactly Dionysos ... I totally agree with John-A

=> why would you try to screw around with chemicals?!!

To me, that would be a bit like the following scenario:

"Hey Ron, that girl over there is really hot, eh? ... do you think that she's wearing make-up?"

"I don't know Kenny? ... why don't you throw some acetone on her and see if it washes off?!"

=> obviously, "not" a good, or logical idea ...


I say "leave well enough alone!!" ... but hey, that's merely my stevex6 take on the situation ... oh, and sadly I've been wrong once or twice before (*sigh*)

 

Only shows that you're human my friend, like all of us

 

It looks very pretty but don't rule out the possibility that its 'after-market' and not contemporary in any way, some people do strange things to ancient coins. Just as possible its gold spray paint from the 20th century as discoloured silvering from the 4th!