Hello all, I came across this coin recently and I want to make sure it's legit and not fake or doctored. The coin comes from a well-known dealer with whom I've dealt before, and I have no particular reason for suspecting it's a fake aside from my own inexperience, and the handful of pits here and there, especially on the reverse. Anyone see any red flags, or does it look good to go? 35mm, 24.54g Thanks!
Why is there the same pitting on the surface throughout the coin? That looks a bit strange, but everything else looks good to me. Pretty sharp details for a Sestertius. Is that a banker's mark hole in the "Q" of SPQR?
The coin looks as if it was improperly cleaned, removing much of the original surface. Perhaps there was bronze disease, or maybe the rough dark deposits obscured much of the coin's design. After the cleaning, the underlying surface shows signs of corrosion. Again I don't know if the corrosion is old or due to active bronze disease. There are also some scratches on the obverse, to the right of the portrait. I think the coin is legit.
Thanks everyone! So do you think that the rough areas at 7 o'clock on the obverse (and 11 o'clock on the reverse) are also scars from BD?
Authentic and beautiful Sestertius. I like the yellow orichalcum tone a lot. Here is mine to compare: IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC PM TRP COS VI PP - Laureate bust of Trajan right, slight drapery on left shoulder SENATVS POPVLVSQVE ROMANVS, S C across fields - Felicitas, draped, standing left, holding up short caduceus in right and cornucopiae in left Sestertius, Rome, 214-216 25,72 gr / 34 mm RIC 672 var. (different bust type). Cohen 352 var. (different bust type), BMCRE -, Sear -, Banti -, Woytek 534b