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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Only a Poor Old Man, post: 7824710, member: 111037&quot;]This Alexander tetradrachm has a unique place in my heart as it was my first ever collectable coin. I got it from an actual brick and mortar shop called Coin Craft, which is an old and established family business just across the street from the British Museum. I was very excited when I got it as I was fascinated to hold a piece of real history.</p><p><br /></p><p>As the time progressed though and got more experienced in the collecting circles and markets, my excitement toned down a bit and I started focusing on the coin&#039;s defects rather than its merits. It has a perfect reverse, but I was unhappy about the obverse strike and surface deposits. Also, when I got more familiar with the prices these normally fetch, I started to think that I had slightly overpaid at around £450. At the end, this coin got earmarked for an upgrade.</p><p><br /></p><p>It didn&#039;t help that my first attempts to photograph the coin were far from perfect. They were actually rather bad and didn&#039;t do the coin justice, and as I got to see the photos more often than the actual coin, it contributed to my &#039;dislike&#039; of the coin. Here is the old pic that I also used in Cointalk.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1344592[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>That was until recently, when I decided to take the coin out and re-photograph it so I have a proper pic for my records. Immediately I realised that the coin was actually much nicer than I remembered. I have seen many Alex tets since I first got it, and I can&#039;t recall many that had such an amazing reverse. And the obverse was not bad either. The strike may be a bit off, but it is a strong one with lovely flow lines. And the deposits are not as bad as I thought. But more about them later. Here is the new photo. I believe it brings out the details much better. I had to play with the contrast a bit, as it is a naturally shiny coin and it came out too bright. Technology-wise it is still a primitive photo. Just a mobile phone camera rested on a book (Historia Numorum) for stability and constant distance for the obverse/reverse takes.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1344593[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>I now have taken this coin out of my &#039;to be upgraded&#039; list. I am very happy with it. And the price has caught up as well. I think that in any major auction it would get its money back, but I am not planning on selling it. My only minor question is about the deposits. After spending so much time reading CoinTalk, I have come to identify the thin brown/grey substance as &#039;horny silver&#039; (that&#039;s the common term I think). My research indicates that a chemical called Sodium Thiosulphate (commonly found in pool cleaners) might take it out. Is that true? Is it safe? Is there any point risking it? I thought that as the reverse is so well cleaned, whoever did the job could not get rid off the deposits, so what hope do I have succeeding? And to be honest I don&#039;t mind about them that much anymore, so I wonder what your advice is.</p><p><br /></p><p>Feel free to comment and post any coins in your collection that was out of favour but is back in your good books again.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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