I think this post may get the most attention not for the coin but because of the seller. I'm sure most of you will recognize who the seller is just from looking at the patina of this coin. I knew what I was getting into but had to have this one. First here is the sellers photo. I had not seen one of these for sell in almost 10 years, so I jumped on it. The first question I asked was if the patina could be removed prior to shipping. The seller responded that it was natural dirt and not sand. I was skeptical but did not press the issue any more. The worst case is I remove it myself, only inconveniencing myself with a little time. After receiving it I put it under a 30x loop to see what I was dealing with. To my surprise the yellow surfaces at least to me look like find dirt patina. After scraping some of it off, which did not come off too easily, I found it to break apart after it was loosened with the pick. I would say that the only thing the seller is guilty of in this case is poor photography. I am pleased with it and will leave the dirt on it as is. Seleucid Kings of Syria Alexander II Mint: Uncertain mint in southern Coele-Syria 128 to 122 BC Obvs: Head of horse right. Revs: BAΣΙΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY, Ship’s ram/prow. AE 11x12mm, 1.44g I still need to get the correct reference #. Post anything relevant here.
Looks OK to me, but I've been snookered by sandy patina before. Still... Seleucid, so at least from a region that's known for genuine sandy patinas. Neat. Took me a sec to recognize that as a horse. My eye was focusing on the prominent mane, to the exclusion of the rest of the horse's head.
Wow. Your photo looks much better. I think I have at least two coins from the seller with the same kind of sketchy patina. I have not tried to remove it. Maybe this gives me hope that the patina is genuine. That's the lie I will tell myself anyway.
I'm not speaking for any others of his, but I think I got lucky here. Have hope indeed desert patinas do exist.
