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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;JBGood, post: 2305745, member: 38987&quot;]Yes, where exactly is the smothing? It looks kind od normal to me?</p><p><font size="4"><br /></font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Below is from Forum Ancients</b></font></p><p><font size="4"><br /></font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Smoothing</b></font></p><p>Smoothing is the grinding down of the metal surface of the fields on a coin (usually bronze) to &quot;smooth&quot; pitted, rough areas.&nbsp; Smoothing can also be performed on areas other than the fields, however, if the <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Work" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Work" rel="nofollow">work</a> modifies the original form of the reliefs or attempts to recreate worn or corroded details, then it must be described as tooling, not smoothing.&nbsp; Smoothing is a form of tooling but is less destructive.&nbsp; In the 19th century smoothing was perceived as an improvement. Today it is seen as destructive but it is <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Still" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Still" rel="nofollow">still</a> done by unscrupulous &quot;conservators&quot; to deceptively &quot;improve&quot; coins. </p><p><br /></p><p>Smoothing is sometimes incorrectly used to describe a form of cleaning where a rough green <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Patina" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Patina" rel="nofollow">patina</a> or copper oxide encrustations (often red lumps) are smoothed down to <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Field" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Field" rel="nofollow">field</a> or detail level.&nbsp; This &quot;smoothing&quot; is better described as cleaning and can enhance the appearance and value of a coin if it is limited to removing encrustations and protrusions. To prevent confusion, the term smoothing should not be used to describe this <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Type" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Type" rel="nofollow">type</a> of cleaning.&nbsp; The term smoothing should be used only when the metal of the coin has been altered. </p><p><br /></p><p>Some well done light smoothing is acceptable to many collectors, particularly on large bronze coins from old 19th century collections, with &quot;old cabinet <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Toning" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Toning" rel="nofollow">toning</a>.&quot;&nbsp; Sometimes even some tooling can be tolerated. A collector may find a smoothed or <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Tooled" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Tooled" rel="nofollow">tooled</a> coin worth purchasing if the coin is a particularly desirable <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Type" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Type" rel="nofollow">type</a> or priced low.&nbsp; Do not, however, pay more for a coin that has tooling or smoothing &quot;improvements&quot; than you would for a worn or pitted example. Tooling and smoothing are damage and reduce rather than enhance value.&nbsp; How much smoothing or tooling you find tolerable is a personal decision.&nbsp; Many collectors will not tolerate any smoothing or tooling whatsoever.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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