Glued fake "patina" raises price from $1,500 to $5,900

It is common today to re-patinate ancient coins, using a variety of methods. Some are reversible, some not. They all have the same goal: to enhance the esthetic appeal of the coin by evening out unwanted colour differences and often also to give a smoother surface. Sometimes substances are applied to enhance the relief and mimic natural patination.

Every dealer and collector will have a personal view on this, ranging from full acceptance to full rejection. That is the way it should be. But when an artificial patina is applied specifically to hide poor preservation, we – imho - approach the area of criminal behavior.

Imagine that a poorly preserved coin is sold for USD 1500. The buyer then applies a thick artificial patina to hide the corroded surface and made to mimic sandy patina (aka Syrian patina). Imagine that the artificial patina is made of sandy patina scraped off from genuine coins and then made into a glue which is painted on the corroded coin. Imagine that the price is now raised from USD 1500 to USD 5900.

Do collectors still want the coin with the fake patina if they know what the coin really looks like?

The coin posted here is now for sale. The upper photos are from the Heritage auction 21-22 Jan this year. The lower photos show the same coin as it is being offered now by a well-known seller. The seller does state “earthen patina applied”, which is true. The quality is given as “Choice VF” which is in any case very subjective.

My paper on the SPES PVBLIC coins was published early this year*, before this particular example surfaced, so it is not in the catalogue. I would have added a paragraph on it, warning potential buyers from acquiring it.

These are just my views, other may think differently.

* a 20-page extract (of 160 pages) is available on academia.edu:

https://independent.academia.edu/LarsRamskold

 

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Does the seller's name begin with an "A" or a "Z"? Because those happen to be the two sellers best-known for applying fake "desert" patina. (And for not always disclosing it, either.)

 

Very Nice Job. What you posted about improving a coin before reselling it happens all the time. Additionally, repairing a coin to use as the model to produce a fake die also happens. I have some questions. While the dies of the two coins appear to match are you 100% positive both images are the same coin? Which coin would you rather own? If the seller had not mentioned the alteration and you had not done the research, how could a collector tell the sand was applied? Too good to be true? I should imagine that a very large percent of coins are altered in this way before reaching the market. It's a wink, wink thing - correct?

 

It seems to me that the OP coin was first darkened, probably using liver of sulfur, and then the "sand patina" was applied. The exposed design elements appear to be much darker in the second photo, and I don't think it is due to lighting.

 

Much rather untouched , original , and not cleaned . . .

 

POLL PLEASE:

Which would you rather own? Top or bottom?

Any examples of sand alterations to share?

 

I disagree. I wouldn't make accusations like that without evidence. It's certainly not true for artificial desert patina; only a limited number of dealers apply that. Nor do I believe it's true of tooling, etc.

 

I am a little circumspect towards sand/desert patinas.
I have 3 coins with this kind of patina, I like them and I think the design elements are well highlighted





I bought these because they are all types I didn't have + they were cheap.
Personally, I wouldn't pay a cent extra for desert/sand patina - I don't mind it at all, but I don't consider it something to pay extra for.

 

Sand patina or ...

 

DonnaML, posted: "I disagree. I wouldn't make accusations [? QUOTE: "I SHOULD IMAGINE..."] like that without evidence. It's certainly not true for artificial desert patina; only a limited number of dealers apply that. Nor do I believe it's true of tooling, etc."

You are welcome to disagree. It seems we travel in different circles.

Not being a world traveler, I have never seen red sand but I'll bet there is some in the AZ desert when the red rocks get weathered. The red coating on the ancients above looks more like red CLAY.

 

It's for sale on VCoins by Athena.

When I was looking into this a while ago, I discovered that there are quite substantial areas in both Turkey and Syria with red soil.

 

If I buy the newly-patinated coin, and then go to NGC or others to slab the coin.. What grade would they give me? It's like turning the condition of a coin from grade VG to XF plus. So, in the near future we might witness a wide trend to repatinate coins in order to sell them at their triple price or more. I'm not sure whether such trend would enhance or rather obstruct the business and future level of Numismatics
I wish it's a positive enhancing behavior. But who can predict ?!

 

I posted on CT my least favorite sand-patina - I think it is from Revlon - it washed off pretty easily. A seller I won't buy from again.

I would much prefer to own the unpatinated coin.

 

There’s an 8th circle of hell for people who repatinate coins.

 

This has been his business model for years. Top image sold in 2013, bottom is currently for sale.

 

CANTO XXIX 55-60 là 've la ministra de l'alto Sire infallibil giustizia punisce i falsador che qui registra. Non credo ch'a veder maggior tristizia fosse in Egina il popol tutto infermo, quando fu l'aere sì pien di malizia...
- The Princeton Dante Project

 

I like the bottom one a lot more. Fake patina or not, it s more attractive. I’m no purist

 

I feel like the applied sand is no different from Ren wax to even out surfaces and make them (arguably) more attractive

 

Calbrey, posted: "If I buy the newly-patinated coin, and then go to NGC or others to slab the coin.. What grade would they give me? It's like turning the condition of a coin from grade VG to XF plus. So, in the near future we might witness a wide trend to repatinate coins in order to sell them at their triple price or more. I'm not sure whether such trend would enhance or rather obstruct the business and future level of Numismatics. I wish it's a positive enhancing behavior. But who can predict!"

First the alteration needs to be detected. Then market acceptability.

hotwheelsearl, posted: "I feel like the applied sand is no different from Ren wax to even out surfaces and make them (arguably) more attractive.

Yet a Ren wax alteration is acceptable. Sort of like "thumbing" a Morgan dollar to make it more attractive.

 

Ren wax doesn't hide any of the surfaces...there shouldn't be a need to explain how that is different from gluing on sand.