These three just arrived from London ancient coins; all three were purchased for their patinas. Mercifully, all three came in flips. I'm currently out of fresh flips. First one: Caracalla Sestertius It's actually much more attractive in hand and the patina is somewhat similar to my recently posted Gordian Sestertius - somewhere inbetween jade and aqua. I also purchased it because it was larger, heavier and rounder than normal Severan Sestertii. This would be a fairly expensive coin were the surfaces smoother. Caracalla (198-217). Æ Sestertius (33mm, 26.64g, 11h). Rome, 213-7. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. R/ Securitas seated r., propping head with hand, holding sceptre; altar before. RIC IV 573a. Green patina, near VF (I agree with the dealer's grade) Second, the one I had originally bookmarked, an aqua Gordian III as. I'm accumulating quite a few nicely patinated Gordians. Gordian III (238-244). Æ As (23mm, 8.31g, 12h). Rome, 240-3. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. R/ Sol standing l., raising hand and holding globe. RIC IV 297b. [aqua] Green patina, Good Fine Third, I knew this one was a no-hoper, but I wanted to see what was going on. It was only 15 pounds Sterling. Perhaps the obverse was eaten by BD? Although it doesn't look active. I also kind of bought it because it reminded me of a 1990s HJB junk box coin that I vividly remember. A Justin? Follis with the reverse being ok and the obv. totally obliterated. I also remember that he had a lot of Gordian III rusty Antoninianii. Try as I might, I can't find any rusty Ants on vcoins. Uncertain series, 2nd-1st century BC. Æ Quadrans (30mm, 22.92g). Head of Hercules r.(?) R/ Prow of galley r.; ROMA above, three pellets below. Fine
Love that aqua patina. My favorite is the second one. The patina on this one is not uniform, but it has blue-green elements. Cilicia. Hieropolis-Kastabala (circa 200-100 BC) Æ (Bronze, 20 mm, 7.25 g) Draped, turreted and veiled bust of Tyche right, monogram behind / Eagle standing left, on club.
The patina's pretty matte on the Caracalla. I wonder if it's an artificial patina? The Gordian's glossy.
I don't know. It's quite a mystery. I have more blue Gordians than anything else. Perhaps there were a bunch of Gordians in the Balkans. Abrittus? The Goth invasions?
My coin with the OP Caracalla type is below and also on this page: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/interesting/SECVRITAS.html "SECVRITAS (Securitas): The real meaning" For more about the meaning of "SECVRITAS" see that page. Again: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/interesting/SECVRITAS.html
Unpopular opinion: NOT a fan of those aqua patina. I’ve done lots of cleaning and this color always seems to be powdery and disintegrate easily. I also find it hard to tell the details. but, that Caracalla is pretty solid
My vision is not exactly the best but I saw your post as Patina Boy! This patina may have been installed by two well known dealers. Not being famillar with these I do not remember seeing these colors on a Byzantine.
The Caracalla's the only near aqua patina I have that's remotely powdery (unless one counts the junk box Quadrans). The rest have a malachite (glossy) patina, although one Gordian Balkan provincial AE I have has the same type of hard encrustations this As has. Of my whole collection; maybe a half dozen are aqua-blue. It's not a super common patina.
Here are several of my "turquoiseish" patinas... sestertius of Domitian... RR aes grave triens.... RR aes grave quadrans sow/sow...
Here’s one of my blue coins. It’s a lot more blue in hand. Really not sure what type of mineral causes this type of blue. The real dark blue ones could be a type of azurite, but I ain’t no gemologist
This photo is terrible at showing the true color of this coin but it’s similar to the OP coins and a bright blue/green. I have to agree with @hotwheelsearl statement that this color of patina is often fragile and prone to flaking/chipping/crumbling. But that’s some not all. Great OP coins!