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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 2699895, member: 19463&quot;]This is something we all need to realize about billon whether from this period or others.&nbsp; It is a really lousy material to use for coins.&nbsp; Pure silver is too soft to be really long lasting as a coin but adding a little copper enters a zone of practicality.&nbsp; As we continue to add more and more alloy we get down to a porous material that does not hold up well.&nbsp; Going further, the alloy gets strong again but no longer looks like silver unless you add a silver wash to remind people that there was silver in the alloy.&nbsp; As collectors we have to decide whether we want to loosen our standards and buy even high grade billon coins.&nbsp; My example is not high grade but it is not the worst either.&nbsp; I seem to have a weakness for other issues that ride the line between silver and billon (Alexandrian tetradrachms, Valerian/early Gallienus-Postumus).&nbsp; Those are not always good choices for people who value eye appeal.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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