Corrosion, patina, or bronze disease?

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Charles1997, Feb 11, 2018.

  1. Charles1997

    Charles1997 Well-Known Member

    Is this corrosion, patina, or bronze disease on this Ancient Greek coin?
     

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  3. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    Looks like patina.
     
  4. Charles1997

    Charles1997 Well-Known Member

    Good! I’m having a very difficult time telling when a coin has bronze disease
     
  5. Charles1997

    Charles1997 Well-Known Member

    how about this one?
     

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  6. Jwt708

    Jwt708 Well-Known Member

    My understanding is that the suspected spots of bronze disease are flakey and powdery.
     
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  7. Johnnie Black

    Johnnie Black Neither Gentleman Nor Scholar

    Dark green, hard spots are usually OK but probably need to be monitored.

    Light green, powdery, flaky is bronze disease and should be treated if possible.
     
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  8. Charles1997

    Charles1997 Well-Known Member

    How about these?
     

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  9. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    BD big time on those for sure.. idk about the others....
     
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  10. gsimonel

    gsimonel Well-Known Member

    Looks like corrosion, not BD. I think the three coins are fourees, and the copper core is corroding in places.

    BD is like a fungus, and it will grow larger over time. If it doesn't grow out of the coin and appear bigger after a week or so, it's probably not BD. If it doesn't brush off easily, it's probably just corrosion. Corrosion is very common on ancient coins. BD is not.

    So for now, just keep an eye on all the coins. Check them regularly for a month or so. If the green isn't growing, it's not BD.
     
  11. Charles1997

    Charles1997 Well-Known Member

    What is fourees?
     
  12. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    ancient base metal counterfeit coins with a layer of silver coating..
     
  13. Charles1997

    Charles1997 Well-Known Member

    They are Billon tetradrachms, would that make a difference?
     
  14. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    billon tets are not considered fourees no.. if that's what you're asking...
     
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  15. Charles1997

    Charles1997 Well-Known Member

    I was wondering if since it was Billon, if that’d explain the copper coloration
     
  16. gsimonel

    gsimonel Well-Known Member

    They look like fourees of Baktrian drachms. Authentic drachms would be solid silver, not billon. These coins look like they have a copper core covered with a thin sheet of silver. But I'm just going by the photo. They may look different in hand.
     
  17. Charles1997

    Charles1997 Well-Known Member

    These are I do-Scythian tetradrachms. They are very large coins, and are billion. These are my first billon coins, so I’m not sure if they would have any copper coloration. Should I shaft a new forum topic on this?
     
  18. gsimonel

    gsimonel Well-Known Member

    You will get responses from people much more knowledgeable about Indo-Scythian tetradrachms than I am if you start a new topic with that header.
     
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