Cleaning ancient coins is a topic that often comes up. How much is too much? Well, I've personally ruined quite a few coins by overcleaning, but every now and again you see something that just blows your mind. From Roma, I won a lot of 10 provincials for a total of $125, or $12.50 each. That's a great price per unit so I wasn't expecting much. Glad I didn't expect too much, as some of those coins are roached. The Agrippa/Augustus Crocodile coin is a rather famous and desirable one. It features two heads, faced away rather than confronted, which is kinda interesting. On the reverse is a large depiction of a crocodile chained to a palm tree. Fun Crocodile Fact #1: according to Bestiality and Zoophilia: Sexual Relations with Animals edited by Andrea M Beetz and Anthony L Podbersceck: “Egyptians are reported to have mastered the art of sexual congress with the crocodile. This was accomplished by turning the creature onto its back, rendering it incapable of resisting penetration. This form of copulation was believed to bring prosperity and restore the potency of men.” Is this why the croc was chained up? Anyways, here's the coin. 25mm, 12.6g AE Dupondius Someone subjected this to so much abuse I feel I should report this case to PETA. I'm guessing a combination of extreme chemicals, electrolysis, and general bad will towards animals leads to this result. It's a real shame - the parts of the coin still in the original brassy color look fairly well detailed, but the rest of it is pink and awful. The picture looks better than in-hand; it's' a complete travesty. But, hey, how else you gonna get a Croc Dup for $12.50?
Man! That thing looks like it was swallowed by a croc and passed from one end to the other -- twice! But you gotta have a croc! Augustus with Agrippa, 27 BC - AD 14. Roman Æ as, 12.99 g, 26.3 mm, 4 h. Nemausus, after 16/15 BC. Obv: IMP/DIVI F, heads back to back of Augustus, right, bare, and Agrippa, left, wearing rostral crown. Rev: COL-NEM to left and right of palm shoot, its tip to right, behind chained crocodile; two wreaths above palm tip. Refs: RIC 155; RPC 523; Cohen 7; AMC 411; RCV 1729. Notes: Sear (p. 338) notes this initial revival of the Nemausian series on a lighter weight standard is probably to be associated with Augustus' visit to Gaul in 16 BC.
That’s one that may improve if you bury it in the backyard for a few years. A little more even and darker color may help. It does have some good detail!
By today's standards, your coin is higher grade than PP coin which has a lot more wear and cost a lot more than $12.50. Obviously, if slabbed, yours would be graded 1/5 for surfaces but it has a reasonable strike and not much wear. VF 4/5 1/5????? Mine? The uneven strike made this coin a good illustration for my page 'Impossible to Grade'. http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/impossible.html
# The picture looks better than in-hand; it's' a complete travesty. not bad for $12.50 - and a smile for your description. I've posted this one a few times: Gaul, Colonia Nemausus, Augustus, 27 BC-AD 14, with Agrippa, AE As(?), struck circa 9/8-3 BC Obv: IMP, heads of Agrippa, wearing rostral crown and wreath, left and Augustus, wearing oak wreath, right, back to back, DIVI F Below Rev: Crocodile right chained to palm branch with short fronds; wreath with long ties above, palms below Ref: RIC I 158; RPC I 524 Write-up: Crocodiles and Romans
Coingrats on da Croc! The coin is a good example of why I don't put any chemicals on my coins, other than Verdi care for the bronzes. Seems counter intuitive, but once I had a whole one I needed some halves
