Hello all. This was my first try at cleaning completely Encrusted dirt off an ancient coin. Had to use a dental pick to get it off. I know it isn't the best job but hopefully the skill should eventually get better. I'm having trouble making out the letters. Does anyone with experience in ancients recognize the coin. Thanks in advance!
Valentinian II The problem IDing it is the small flan lost the VA. Similarly, your reverse is clearly REI PVBLICICE and has a chreat cross Rho Christian symbol but lost the first word and the mintmank. Look at type 39 on this page: http://esty.ancients.info/ricix/ Click on type 39 and go to a page that shows a lot of possibilities but you are missing the parts you really need to take the ID further.
Thanks for the help. As for the job I did do you have any constructive criticism? I enjoy cleaning off the Encrusted coins and am trying to learn good tips. Thanks again.
Looks like you did a good job. I see a lot of nice patina and no areas of bare metal. As for attribution, I'm glad someone else stepped in, because all I could get was "4th century Roman bronze" due to the chi rho.
Unfortunately I didn't take a before picture. Since I am learning I actually thought it was a cull because it showed absolutely no detail after the olive oil soak and brush. I only though about scraping the dirt with a pick after finding a YouTube video of someone cleaning a similar looking crusted coin the same way.
Thanks for the help. I just stumbled across this. It seems like the exact same coin. It's the only place I found the same obverse and reverse - and they seem to be mentioning it with theodosius? http://www.forumancientcoins.com/ca...2&fld=http://www.forumancientcoins.com/Coins/
I think the link I just posted may be slightly different looking at it again. I can't seem to find the same coin in any of the pictures
There are 2 or 3 that look similar, but the obverse legend on my coin seems to run above the head while some others have it more on the side
I'm heading off to bed, but if no one identifies it by the time I'm up and about, I'll take a look see. Good night one and all.
It's really hard to say for sure. Like Doug said, your coin is missing parts that would allow for a positive ID. My inclination would be that it is RIC 86a, Constantinople, but that is only a guess.
http://www.forumancientcoins.com/ca...2&fld=http://www.forumancientcoins.com/Coins/ I find interesting that the link you posted from a respected seller has an error in ID even though their coin has all the parts. Their text specifies ANTB and Antioch mint but the photo clearly reads SMNB (Sacra Moneta Nicomedia workshop B). Bing may feel comfortable assigning a mint by style but I am not and would leave the coin partly identified rather than chancing being wrong on the details like mint and shop.
