I really look for perfect coins, ones with all the needed elements, full legend, nicely centered, in Byzantine coins they are called purse coins, coins that really did not circulate. They are rare but that’s what I look for, but they don’t always have that eye appeal. Here is a coin that has many faults but the most interesting Patina, to me it is one of my favorites simply because the eye appeal the patina gives. Deep dark green Alexius III Trachy. Regardless of what you collect we all have coins with great patinas, share them please. I would love to see them and I am certain others would too.
Love the green patina! Here's one of mine NERO CAESAR AVG GERM IMP SC Victory alighting left wings spread holding shield inscribed SPQR Rome mint 65 AD 11.16g Sear 1976 var. RIC 1 352 VF ex-ANE
Thanks, Got that from a CNG triton auction some years ago. I actually like the yellow and multicolored patinas ... here are a few...
I have two favorites for the patina- Carthago Horse/Kore Carthago - Siclian Mint Bronze Punic Ae; 2.86g; 17mm Head of Kore Left; Horse standing right, Palm tree behind SNG Copenhagen 109/113; Acquaro 193/324; Muller II 163 AEL FLAC-CILLA AVG Bust draped with elaborate headdress, necklace and mantle SALVS REI-PVBLICAE Empress standing, facing, head right, arms folded at breast CONSΕ Large Chi-rho in right field Constantinopolis year 383-388 RIC IX Constantinopolis 82; Cohen 6 Ae2; 21-22mm; 3.88g
I have always liked this definition of patina: “The surface of an object that has grown lovely with the passage of time and use” RIC Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 99 41-50 AD, (36mm, 25.3gm) Obverse depiction: Claudius, laureate head facing right Inscription clockwise from bottom: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP Reverse depiction: Personification of Spes holding flower in right hand and raising skirt with left hand Inscription clockwise from bottom: SPES AVGVSTA - S C (exergue) RIC Vol. I, NERO, As, Lugdunum, No. 543 (AD 66) Obverse: Nero, bare headed facing right Inscription clockwise from bottom: IMP NERO CAESAR AVG P MAX TRP P P Reverse: Winged Victory, walking left, holding shield inscribed SPQR Inscription: S -------- C (left and right) Sestertius, RIC, Vol. I, Tiberius, No. 68, AD 36-37 (35mm, 22.6gm) Cataloged in Wildwinds under Augustus - Sear 1784 Coin obverse depiction: Augustus, radiate, togate, holding laurel branch in r. hand and long sceptre in l., seated on throne, placed on a car, drawn l. by four elephants, each bearing a mahout on its neck. The side of the car is ornamented with shields (?) Inscription across top in three lines DIVO AVGVSTO SPQR Coin reverse depiction: Large, centered S C Inscription clockwise from top: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVST PM TR POT XXXIIX RIC Vol. II, TRAJAN, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 534, 98-117AD, (35mm, 22.6gm) Obverse depiction: Trajan, head facing right, wearing aegis Inscription: IMP CAES NERVAE TRIANO AVG GER DAC PM TRP COS V PP Reverse depiction: Trajan galloping on horseback spearing a fallen Dacian soldier Inscription: SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI - in exergue S C RIC Vol. I, NERO, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 356, 66-67AD, (36mm, 24.8gm) BMCRE Vol. I, NERO, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 114, 66-67AD, Obverse depiction: Nero, laureate head facing right Inscription: IMP NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GERM PM TRP XIII PP Reverse depiction: Personification of Roma seated left on cuirass resting elbow on shield and holding spear, helmet behind Inscription: ROMA in exergue S C left and right
Some fantastic patina's shown so far, my favorite colorful patina. Septimius Severus, AD 193-211. AE29 (29 mm, 15,1 g). Pontus, Neocaesarea.
While not in perfect shape, I love the vibrant green patina on this Gordian III. Gordian III with Tranquillina (238-244). Ae. THRACE. Anchialus. Obv: AVT K M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC AVΓ CAB / TPANKVΛΛINA. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Gordian and draped bust of Tranquillina, wearing stephane, facing one another. Rev: OVΛΠIANωN AΓXIAΛEωN. Eagle, with head right, wreath in beak and wings spread, standing left on thunderbolt. Varbanov 759-60 var.
Great thread! I love greenies like everyone else, but this is actually my favourite type of patina on Roman bronze: Smooth, hard, multicoloured-tan-and-aqua, with a little dirt... makes me want to it for some reason. But I think @TypeCoin971793 will agree with me that best patinas on Chinese coins are hard to beat! Tang: Su Zong (756-762) 50 cash, H 14.105 Song: Hui Zong (1101-1125) 1 cash, H 16.441