Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 1110623, member: 19463&quot;]Below are two ancient coins (both orichalcum dupondii of Nero). The first shows what I call toning. The brass is darker yellow but the bright metal is only a few molecules below the surface (except for a few places with extra dirt) . The second has &#039;green patina&#039; which is considerably thicker and hard. This one has been smoothed in cleaning. Some &#039;ancient guys&#039; (especially dealers) use incorrect terms including &#039;patina&#039; and would call the yellow one &#039;Tiber Patina&#039; and a coin caked with hard dirt &#039;Sand Patina&#039; but, technically, ancient patinas are like the green one here. These uses are rather like the metal &#039;German Silver&#039; which has no silver in it at all but sounds good when selling. </p><p><a href="http://www.pbase.com/dougsmit/image/115368667.jpg" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.pbase.com/dougsmit/image/115368667.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://www.pbase.com/dougsmit/image/115368667.jpg</a> </p><p><a href="http://www.pbase.com/dougsmit/image/111658120.jpg" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.pbase.com/dougsmit/image/111658120.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://www.pbase.com/dougsmit/image/111658120.jpg</a></p><p>I am unclear on how old a bronze coin has to be before it can have a natural green (or blue or red) patina. Perhaps metal detectorists know that one and can provide an image of a modern coin with patina. My guess would be about 1000 years but that is just a guess.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in