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Message:: [QUOTE="John Anthony, post: 1966990, member: 42773"]I don't like the surfaces on the Caracalla at all. That coin was very crusted over at some point and it had to be harshly cleaned. That's not the fault of the cleaner, mind you - often coins are found with very heavy encrustations and whoever cleans them has no choice but to be aggressive about it. But that reverse type is distinctive and beautiful, and you're not getting the full effect with that coin. Either move up to a higher price bracket for that type or keep looking for something else. The S. Alexander is much better in terms of detail. The surfaces are still a bit rough, but it's about what I'd expect from a $25 denarius. That dealer's pics aren't great. The coin isn't going to be purple. He just doesn't bother to adjust his white balance. If you make the pic black-and-white, you'll have a better idea of what the coin will actually look like. That being said, I've bought a number of coins from him with no problems - he's quite reliable.[/QUOTE]