After sleeping through my CNG bid this morning the day started off poorly (lot 36). Then things took a turn, I received 3(!!!) Coriosolite/ Armorican staters in the mail - all purchased from different sources over the last 6 weeks. Here we are, no attributions for now as I'm posting from a mobile. Each is 20-22mm and approx 6g
The above photos really don't do the coins justice. I need to hone my photography skills, particularly with the slabbed coins
It was hard - just short of impossible - to find specimens even in this condition. For all who value a complete image/ strike, the Gaul staters can be infuriating
Nvb, This is an interesting coincidence, the coin pictured below I won at a recent Heritage auction. Shortly after receiving the coin Jerod Costa, from Heritage sent me an e-mail that one of their customers was interested in the coin I just won & made an offer on the coin. I rejected the offer & shortly there after another offer was made that I accepted. I did enjoy the coin for the short time I had it .
Coincidence indeed I'm that guy.. well played in rejecting my first offer. It just shipped from Heritage to me this morning so I should be getting it next week. I hope you did enjoy the coin.. I'm curious if it was perhaps silvered? Awfully shiny for a billion stater. I was seduced by its lustre and it's beefy 24mm flan. TBH its probably not going to stay in that slab for long..
My guess would have been silvered but I have zero experience cleaning coins and trust your opinion. Would Billion shine up like that? Wouldn't lemon juice shine up those flan cracks all the same? Anyway, what a small world! Fwiw, the middle coin pictured above, Jersey Moon Head stater was also an offer to an owner on HA. I paid a few bucks more for that one, but they are quite rare and its a beauty in hand (slab)
The cropped image from HA is much better than my crappy pics =) This stater is most often attributed to the Abrincatui
Nvb, The billon tet pictured below of Macrinus, 14.80 gm was kept in lemon juice too long but it stop me from buying it .
I'm really interested/ surprised by this. As I said I have no experience cleaning coins.. A lot of the billion pieces have have a very distinctive dark 'bronze coin' patina. I can't wrap my head around the coin below coming out looking like your example above it... but then again, these staters are from the same tribe and the same time period, so they may actually have a similar composition. Can't say a part of me isnt tempted to try..just a bit.. but I wouldnt dare for fear of doing something regrettable and irreversible.
Nvb, I'm guessing the top coin was originally discovered totally encrusted when found, so when it was cleaned the original color of the coin was revealed. The bottom coin was not encrusted, hence it developed a deep natural toning. They do make an interesting comparison. I'd leave the bottom coin as is.
Agreed. There are only certain circumstances where I'd consider cleaning a coin, and this isnt one of them. The patina is in wonderful shape.
I have had this for a while. Love it. Better than most, not as good as some. Surely you know about this software workshop? http://www.writer2001.com/exp0002.htm
I have read parts of it but not all. Wonderful resource that I'll be exploring in full. Coriosolite coins in hand, of course..
