I picked up this great little coin from Valentinian early in the year, needed a bit of soaking in distilled water as it had some sort of black encrustation probably charcoal from the result of a fire. After a couple of weeks the encrustation had dissolved and left a patchy green and brown patina. Tiberius (AD 14-37) at Corinth. 22-21 mm. Struck 32-33(?) according to RPC. Radiate head of Augustus left, legend [obscure on this coin] L ARRIO PEREGRINO II VIR Six-column temple, legend L FVRIO LABEONE/ GENT IVLI/ COR (in exergue) RPC 1151 The legends name the two duoviri of the Roman colony Corinth. And below after cleaning.
I might have cleaned it some, but I think it would be better to try and avoid removing the patina from the high points. I see new detail that came out in the lettering and hair, but that might’ve been accomplished with more focused mechanical cleaning. But if it was very flaky, it might’ve been necessary. Leave it out for a while and let the bare metal darken.
How I first noticed that it had something else on it besides patina is when I went to take a pic of it on white paper, as I was moving it I noticed it left black crumbs so I knew it had some other type of organic adhesion that wasn't patina so after about three changes of distilled water and a gentle rub with a soft toothbrush the water stayed clear indicating I only had true patina left on coin.
I think it looks good either way @Ancient Aussie I think the lighting on the reverse is causing some people to think that you lost some of the detail but I doubt that is the case. The lighting on the pre-cleaned photo is oriented at a lower angle situated at about 9-o'clock and allows the shadows to show the details better while the after photo is lit more directly from the top which I think is making some of the detail wash out. If you need any help post processing your images to get a better "in hand" look to them just send me a PM and I'd be happy to help Love the temple reverse! Is that the temple of Apollo? I don't have any coins to add but I have been to the temple in question at Corinth.
I think your right it does look better in hand in fact I like it lighter, and my pics are magnified a bit more as well. Love your pic of the temple at Corinth, not sure if it's the one on the coin I suppose if we knew the approx date the temple of Apollo was built it might tie in with the coin.
The temple of Apollo was built around 540 BC so it would certainly have been around in the Roman era. It has six columns (that are each carved monotonically out of a single stone!) just like your coin shows. I would bet that it is the temple shown on your coin. It's definitely the most prominent temple of the ancient city.
It's difficult to know if a coin should be cleaned or not. I like your before better but it's an Achaean provincial so I like the after too. Achaea. Corinthia, Corinth. Nero Æ20. Claudius Anaxilaus and P. Ventidius Fronto Corinthia, Corinth. Nero. 54-68 AD. Æ 20mm . Ti. Claudius Anaxilaus and P. Ventidius Fronto, Duovirs. Struck 67-68 AD. Laureate head of Nero left / Nero stands facing within tetrastyle temple. BCD Corinth 480. SNG Copenhagen 235-236. RPC I 1208.
Although I travelled through Corinth I missed the ancient ruins unfortunately, I think we were on our way to Olympia. I did see the Corinth canal though. I did take a couple of other shots of the coin in different lighting and angles and unlike the OP shot you get to see the columns and more of an idea of patina colour.
That's a really nice Nero Corinth with fantastic patina, I read where Nero showed a lot of interest in getting the canal project going. He actually turned the first shovelful of dirt (a bit like our politicians of today) later on he balked at the cost only after he or Caligula used 6000 slaves to no avail.
