patina buy - 3 new ones

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

 

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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.

 

Thanks, and I like your coin, too!

 

I like that Caracalla. Great portrait, beefy, and a nice green patina.

 

I don't know what it is about these Gordians and their bluish patination.

 

G3 had some beautifully patinated (I learned a new word!) coins.

 

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

 

Agree with hotwheelsearl , no favourite of mine eighter.
Just have one :


RR Quadrans;

 

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...

 

The IOVI VICTORI Sestertius is one of my favorite Roman types; what a wonderful example!

 

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

 

Isn't it? Lovely portrait of The Last of the Flavians.

 

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!

 

Here a sestersius and a double sestersius from Postumus, with a mixt patina.

 

My favorite similar (in a degree) patina