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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;IdesOfMarch01, post: 2526632, member: 39084&quot;]No, this isn’t a treatise on how to “tool” an aureus to make it look better!</p><p><br /></p><p>Like any makeover, it consists of “before” and “after” pictures, illustrating how much a coin’s looks can be improved with simple techniques that don’t require any alteration of the coin’s surface.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here’s the <b>before</b> picture:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]539422[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Note the low contrast, somewhat inaccurate color rendition, and distracting tabs imprisoning the coin in its plastic jail cell.&nbsp; Its virtues are obscured by its unattractive presentation.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here’s the <b>after</b> picture:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]539423[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>HADRIAN 117 - 138 A.D.</p><p>AV Aureus (7.15 g.)&nbsp; Rome ca. 134 - 138 A.D.&nbsp; RIC II -- cf. 298g</p><p>HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P bare head of Hadrian&nbsp; r. Rev. Africa, draped, wearing elephant-skin headdress, recl. L, r. hand on neck of lion stg. L. grain ears behind</p><p><br /></p><p>Natural lighting and better presentation, combined with a complimentary background, have really brought out the beauty and quality of the coin.&nbsp; (A better photographer than I could improve this even more, I suspect.)</p><p><br /></p><p>I really believe Heritage did this coin a disservice by slabbing it.&nbsp; Part of Heritage’s description included the NGC grading:</p><p><br /></p><p><i>NGC Choice XF 5/5 - 4/5 Fine Style</i></p><p><br /></p><p>My dealer and I agree that the appropriate grade is <i>About EF</i>, while the artistic style of both the obverse and reverse speaks for itself.&nbsp; I was very, very happy to acquire a travel series Hadrian aureus at such a bargain price[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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