Finally after long cleaning, soaking, et al and soaked in BTA for three days. My new Augustus was ready. Yea, I broke down and went and got it from "The Cove" but he came from a pedigree supposedly, a revolutionary, 1812 DAR naval officer. It suffered, especially on the obverse badly from bronze disease. And in one slight spot starting a patina. I thought my cleaning would bring the portrait out, but alas the damage was done. Nontheless, on the reverse, it could be clearly made out: "RUFUS". So I immediately lept to the conclusion that IT HAD to be Gaius Valgius Rufus, suffect consul and poet under Augustus, which would have put it @ 12B.C. But the numbers immediately after the name didn't make sense to me. Was it Augustus as co-consul? Wikipedia has a list of all the known Roman consuls. So before I posted and made a fool of myself, (which I am want to do), especially with all the scholars on this board, I decided to check Wildwinds. I had to look twice but found at least a close type, or it may be damage to the coin itself: "C PLOTINUS RUFUS III VIR AAAFF"; Augustus AE.As, RIC 389, Cohen 564, BMC 153 Sears. Wt: 8.45 g. DI: 27 mm. A recent coin of this type was dated 6 B.C. But under a Wikipedia article:Triumvir Monetalis, "having noticed a significant number of familial connections between moneyers and consuls of the same year". Assuming that "Rufus" was not like "Smith" or "Jones", maybe some relationship existed. [I know. I know. My photos stink. But will have to do until I can get a new phone
..you might try using a magnifying glass with you phone...i use one with my $30 camera for coins and they come out great..you'll get the hang of it..
My photos are still imperfect but mostly because 1. I am lazy and 2. the light in my house is not exactly suitable for photos. BUT there was a dramatic improvement last year when I bought an old digital camera. A Panasonic DMC-LZ7, 15 years old. Although it wasn't a high end product even when it was launched, for coin photos it is excellent. Rather than buying a new phone, I recommend buying an old, functional camera, you might be surprised.