Maximinus I - My last coin this year.

The last coin I will receive this year came today two days ahead of the eBay predicted date. The post office has been doing well this month. This coin is a tetradrachm of Maximinus I from Alexandria with reverse bust of Helios dated year three. I bought it from a seller with many things other than coins but decided to risk it based on the image.


When it arrived there was a surprise or two. The coin was in a PVC flip and quite slimy with very little green tint. It had been in that flip for at least 30 years because the ticket was from NFA with their Encino address meaning the company before it was taken over by Bruce McNall. It almost seems a shame to remove it from its historical home but the thing was most definitely overdue a bath.

At first look I thought there was a spelling problem in Maximinos but the N has a die break across it that makes it look like an M. The coin was marked $27 and the grade VF had been corrected to EF on the label. I'd call it VF and worth more than $27 (which is a good thing since I paid more). I'll be saving the label insert but the flip itself is trashed. Once before, years ago, I saw a collection of bronzes in PVC flips with a great deal of green fuzz in the slime and pieces of the plastic stuck to the coins. I have no idea how long they had been in there but do believe that copper is more affected than silver. Modern coins also seem to be ruined faster because of their raw surfaces and the climate in which the flip is stored also makes a difference. Maximinus, and I, got lucky.

 

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Had this on my watch list on ebay, it is a lovely coin.

 

Wow Doug, that's a sweetie!!

=> I love the obverse and the reverse!! (very cool coin) ...

... man, I love coins from Alexandria!! (great eye-appeal)

Wow, big finish to 2014 (congrats on a great season)

 

Here are a few "Helios-examples" to keep your coin company ...

 

To me, the dealer's ticket is definitely the most interesting part of this coin.

 

Great coin! So how did you clean up the PVC gunk? Was distilled water enough, or did you have to use acetone?

 

Outstanding!!!!!

 

What a find, and a great coin with which to cap the year off.

 

Wow, that's a great-looking coin!

 

An excellent way to wrap up 2014 Doug.

 

I'd say we have a difference of opinion here but I agree that the ticket is a major addition to the coin. IMHO the coin wins because it is my only Alexandria tet with a head rather than a full figure reverse.

91% rubbing alcohol.

 

very nice addicion, i understand why you baught it, if find the Patina also very important on a coin.

cheers

Eric

Hadrian with Helios

 

Can I use alcohol also with other roman coin. And how you gona store him? There is some kind of protective coating maybe?

 

I am not aware of other uses and chemicals. I am not a cleaning specialist. I do not believe in protective coatings but have not studied that much either.

 

Wow, that's a very sweet Helios addition, Oki-Eric (very cool coin)

 

Those Helios reverse tets have been on my want list for ages, either Hadrian or Maximinus. I find them very attractive

Q

 

I find the differences in the faces interesting. Helios aged and got rougher looking in a hundred years. I wonder if there is some historical explanation for who served as model for the face of the god.

 

I would assume that the portraits were usually based off the emperor. That seems to be the case for the two shown here at least.

 

A cool addition Doug!

 

that's a pretty coin, I bet it's nice and chunky also. not the usual Alexandrian, great style.

is alcohol the usual way to treat pvc damage?