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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;desertgem, post: 3204946, member: 15199&quot;]I still think that confusion over the non-scientific definition of crystal is part of the problem.</p><p>Crystals are the norm for the elements of the periodic chart. Notice in the chart below all of the metals used in coinage have&nbsp; crystal lattices.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://periodictable.com/Properties/A/CrystalStructure.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://periodictable.com/Properties/A/CrystalStructure.html" rel="nofollow">http://periodictable.com/Properties/A/CrystalStructure.html</a></p><p><br /></p><p>However, most people are aware that if they are trying to form metals, different heating and cooling time and temperature is need so the crystals align to either be strong or pliable, annealing is one name for that</p><p><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Annealing</i> (metallurgy), a<u> heat treatment that alters the micro-structure </u>of a material causing changes in properties such as strength</p><p><br /></p><p>Surprisingly , there are many internet sources on ancient coinage and crystallization , but most are book quotes . Crystals do exist in chemical elements for sure. Whether the indicated structures in the current coin here,&nbsp; are or are not from crystals structural changes ,is the question.</p><p><br /></p><p>Yes if some chemically active cleaner was used, it could etch the lesser/weaker bound faces of the metallic crystal ( as the coin metal is most likely not a single pure element, so some bonds would be weaker) but whether the faces show such I can not tell from the photo. Maybe a polarized metallurgy microscope could indicate it, but the article I quoted in the previous post did use high level equipment and should be quite accurate.&nbsp; Whether a Chemical cleaner used, Natural soil conditions over centuries, or a tampered coin, I have no idea. Jim[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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