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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 3293499, member: 19463&quot;]Later Valerian is about as poor billon as coins got before they started silvering them to make them look silver.&nbsp; The coin has little wear and no real damage but the poor metal is eroded from burial and cleaning.&nbsp; Many look as porous as this but there are some that suffered less over the centuries.&nbsp; Slightly better Valerian coins are not all that expensive so The question is whether this is pleasing to you and just how well this fits your desires.&nbsp; If you want to demonstrate how bad billon can get and still be gray in color, this is the coin.&nbsp; I might suggest getting one like this and one from a bit earlier and a bit later to demonstrate the transition.</p><p>&nbsp;[ATTACH=full]871157[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>My &#039;less silver&#039; example is an error caused when two flans stuck together so it has no reverse but it shows the color.&nbsp; The next step would be a coin of Valerian&#039;s son Gallienus that showed silvering added but worn away to reveal enough core to make the point.&nbsp; If, however you just want one Valerian, I&#039;d hold off and find one with better metal. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]871158[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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