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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;sand, post: 21347829, member: 118540&quot;][USER=107246]@ancient times[/USER] Better photos would be helpful. In a sense, it looks like, you are at least partially correct. It looks like, the outer layers of your coin have &quot;fossilized&quot;, but this is usually called &quot;patina&quot;. Your coin looks like a typical bronze coin, which has an outer layer of patina. Patina can be green, or black, or brown, or other colors. The patina is a result of a chemical reaction between the bronze of the coin, and the surrounding environment, which is the ground in which the coin was buried, and water, and air. During hundreds or thousands of years, the bronze of the coin, and the surrounding chemicals in the ground, water, and air, chemically combine to form a patina, on the surface of the coin. Often, the patina eventually becomes hard and smooth, and protects the underlying bronze, from further chemical reactions. However, sometimes, the chemical reactions can completely destroy a coin. Depending on the conditions of the environment, the patina can be thin, or thick. You coin seems to have a green patina, which is somewhat thick. For your coin, it looks like, there is probably intact bronze, underneath the patina. However, if you were to remove the patina, the remaining bronze may or may not have any remaining design on it. Sometimes, if the patina is thick, the design has been completely converted into patina. Often, if a bronze coin has a nice looking patina, then this enhances the value of the coin. Most ancient coin collectors seem to prefer a thin patina, rather than a thick patina. However, I like some coins, which have a thicker patina.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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