Though not that noticeable in hand, under the camera light, the blue azurite pops. Maximianus A.D. 299 Ӕ Follis 26x28mm 10.2g IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; laureate head right. GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius standing left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder, right holding patera and sacrificing over lit altar, left cornucopiae. In ex. AQP RIC VI Aquileia 27b
Wow, that’s a handsome coin, especially considering its vibrant colors. I bet it looks even more appealing when illuminated.
First... Nice pun! ;-) It surely does! In my entire collection I have just one, solitary, blue patina; and it is so blue it even looks unmistakably blue in hand. Asia Minor Lydia, Blaundos / Mlaundus Circa 100 B.C. Obv.: Zeus, laureate bust, right Rev.: Hermes, standing left holding a kerykeion and purse; MΛAYNΔEωN Diam.: 19 mm. Weight: 6.13 g. Attrib.: BMC 18. SNG Copenhagen 67. The blue was a nice serendipity, because my primary motivation for buying it was the novelty connection of Zeus & Hermes with Acts 14:12, “And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker." Anyway, that's a nice Maximianus example even without his depression showing! My sole example of him shows Hercules -- and he is RIPPED! (Well, at least the COIN is! ;-) It's almost as if Hercules ripped off a piece of the coin for small change with his herculean fingers.) Silvered Antoninianus Mint: Lugdunum / Lyon; A.D. 287-289 Obv.: IMP C VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; Maximian rad., draped/cuirassed bust, r. Rev.: HERCVLI PACIFERO (Hercules as Peacemaker); Hercules standing l., holding branch, club, and lion's skin; officina Γ to left. Weight: 3.1 gr. Diam.: 23 x 21 mm. Attrib.: RIC 371 (R2) Maximianus (aka: Maximian) was the primary enforcer of the persecution of Christians in the Western Roman Empire. While Diocletian and Galerius in the East were a forceful duo behind the instigation of the persecution, Maximian diligently and aggressively followed through with their imperial edicts across Spain, Italy, and especially North Africa.
Coins with blue deposits are fairly rare. I have a few, but my favorite is my "corn flake coin"-- ex Dr. John Harvey Kellogg (1852-1943) who was the founder of the Battle Creek Sanitarium and inventor of the Corn Flake. Constantine I A.D. 316 20x21mm 3.3g CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right. SOLI INVIC-TO COMITI, Sol rad., raising r. hand, globe in l.; stg. l., chlamys across l. shoulder, across fields T-F In ex. BTR RIC VII Trier 105
Love that Trier 105 @Victor_Clark! It's an eye-catcher for sure! Those scattered deposits are beautiful accentuations. Oh, and I'm digging your "corny" pun(s). ;-D
@Victor_Clark , I had this type of blue ( like on your Maxinianus coin ) after using a mix of backing salt and a second type of salt for cleaning. After cleaning, when taking a foto, i could see that type of blue on the surface in the light i used. I am in Germany for the moment, when i get home i can tell the name of the saltmix. It is well known by ancient coin collectors. I found it, from this forum, https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Bronze Disease Treatment
