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Message:: [QUOTE="IdesOfMarch01, post: 2400288, member: 39084"]So this viewpoint raises an interesting question: what exactly is the definition of "original coin's surface?" Strictly speaking, the "original coin's surface" was bright, shiny copper or bronze, devoid of any patina since the latter would not have been present when the coin was originally struck.  So, for example, electrolytic removal of all of this coin's debris down to the original metal would NOT be tooling or smoothing (unless you have a different definition of "original coin's surface").  However, most collectors of ancients would agree that removal of an AEs patina is an unacceptable modification of the coin. I doubt there is a black-and-white answer to my question, which is why Valentinian's elegant response is so valuable to this topic.[/QUOTE]