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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;TIF, post: 2334692, member: 56859&quot;]Very interesting article! I didn&#039;t realize the flow lines developed on the die rather than on the coin but of course that makes perfect sense <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />.</p><p><br /></p><p>There is still much I don&#039;t understand about the metallurgy and mechanics of this.&nbsp; Why aren&#039;t flow lines seen more often on bronze coins?&nbsp; Bronze is harder, so at first though it seems more likely to &quot;etch&quot; the die as the metal moves but that doesn&#039;t seem to be the case.&nbsp; I&#039;ve seen flow lines on highly debased antoniniani but not on sestertii or Greek bronzes.&nbsp; Or have I just not noticed them?&nbsp; Perhaps the patinas and other surface changes due to aging obscure small die surface features?</p><p><br /></p><p>Looking through my coins I have very few with prominent flow lines.&nbsp; This Roman Republic denarius has some near the devices, nicely highlighted by iridescent toning:</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://www.cointalk.com/attachments/jc-cupidbigadenarius-reflection-jpg.458530/" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> </p><p><b>Roman Republic, L. Julius L. f. Caesar</b></p><p><b>103 BC</b></p><p>AR denarius, 17mm, 3.9 gm</p><p>Obv: Helmeted head of Mars left; CAESAR; ・J above</p><p>Rev: Venus Genetrix in chariot left, drawn by two Cupids; lyre to left; ・J above</p><p>Ref: Crawford 320/1.</p><p><i>Jencek E-auction 26, lot 58, 14 October 2014. Ex CNG XXXI lot 699, September 1994; ex RBW Collection</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p>AncientJoe has some aurei with spectacular but subtle flow lines radiating out from the coins&#039; centers in a pleasingly uniform way.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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