I would appreciate if anyone could identify this heavy bronze coin, with a dimple in the middle. Also if you have any advice on removing Verdi Gris. Thanks!
I can tell from the reverse that it comes from Viminacium, Moesia with the reverse "Moesia standing facing, head left, extending hands to bull and lion standing at feet on either side.". I cannot identify the ruler.
If I could only remove the green stuff I could easily read the writing because it is very well preserved. I can feel it under fingertips.
Ave Magnus Maximus! I think you have nailed it. I browsed the wild winds and here is what I came up with as a possibility(for educational purposes only): http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/philip_I/_viminacium_Pick_100.jpg Let me know what you think. Thanks!
If I read the date in the exergue correctly as ANV, it would be Philip I. The green-away question is much harder. Looking at the photo, I thought it was hoplessly corroded and removing the green would leave nothing better looking below. The photo does not match what you say about detail underneath. You could soak the coin in a strong solution of Sodium sesquicarbonate which would remove the green, An acid like lemon juice would work as well but would be even more likely to eat copper ruining any coin detail under there so you would have to watch progress like a hawk and stop at the very moment the bad stuff was gone but before the good was damaged. Usually what is under hard green patina is not something you want to see so we recommend leaving it alone. However when what you have is ugly and you are aware that it is not likely to get better, you may choose to go against reason and hope for a miracle. The conservative approach is always to do the least first and see if that helps at all. In this case, that would be a soak in distiled water and brushing with a tooth brush repeated several times before adding any chemical to the effort. If the brown in the photo is on top of the green rather than the other way around, I'd suspect a better chance for success but if the brown is where the green has already been removed, chances are not as good. I wish I could hold out more hope for success but all I see in the photo does not strike me as good.
Slow typists always lose. The Wildwinds photo shows a coin stripped of its patina leaving rough surfaces and is the best you could hope for removing the green. That coin has a good solid base which I don't believe yours has looking at the edges on the photo.
Doug, Its a scan not a photo. I 'll make a better effort. I soaked it for 12 hours in distilled water and sodium bicarbonate after that I brushed it, but with no results
The weight of the coin is 14.5grams Diameter is 3cm. I thought it was bronze, but you say it is copper?
I now firmly believe that it's Philip I (the Arab) from the looks of your latest picture. Is this your first Ancient?
Magnus Maximus: Thanks for the help. It is nor my first ancient, but I do not collect ancients. I have 10 - 15 ancient coins and a couple of medieval. Primarily I collect world paper and metal money 18th, 19th and 20th century
