Well, they are ancient and 'dark' and seem appropriate at this time......and they are an addition, or up-grade to what I already have. I chose to post these two now since I have noticed several members who think cleaning this gorgeous blackish patina down to the shiny metal beneath is preferable than leaving them as they became after being buried for so many centuries I LOVE them as they are and would NEVER consider removing that 'badge of antiquity'. Sestertius of Julia Mamaea; RIC 705 IVLIA MAMAEA AVGVSTA Diademed, draped bust right VENVS VICTRIX S C Venus standing, holding helmet and scepter, shield at feet Heavy Dupondius of Faustina; RIC 1639 FAVSTINA AVGVSTA Draped bust right FECVNDITAS S C Fecunditas standing right, holding long scepter and infant on outstretched hand. BTW: Has anyone determined WHO that infant represents????
Well, we're talking about Faustina II on the dupondius. Faustina I died young and her coins are memorial issues with the legend DIVA. Faustina II bore Marcus Aurelius 13 children. The child probably doesn't refer to anyone specifically, but is rather a symbol of fertility that you would expect with the goddess Fecunditas.
Nice to see some ladies posted, I like both & would leave them their original looks too. I would be happy with both.
Lucky you are MZ With 2 ladies( First class), along with Venus and Fecunditas. What more can one dream of ?
A few people expressed the thought that cleaning them 'harshly' to the metal would make the coins look nice and shiny as they once did....mostly on the thread about uncleaned coins...
Very nice coins Mikey. I love the patina on both, especially the hints of green on the Julia Mamaea .I have no ancient ladies, except for Roma. I need me some real ancient ladies.
Not me of course, and I assumed people were 'jerking our chains' but I've heard several people over the years express the opinion that tarnish remover is the way to go to improve a coin (or metals) value and I thought it should be brought up again for any new collectors on CT or those still 'lurking out there.
Well, for any new collectors out there, me included I guess, I will not buy any Bronze coin that has been harshly cleaned and stripped of Patina, nor any silver coin that has been so harshly cleaned that it may never tone again. I've only ever cleaned one coin, my first Antoninus Pius denarius, and all I did was gently soak it in lemon to remove some of the heavier toning (it was so dark it was turning completely black). I only went so far, and left light brown tarnish around the designs and light tarnish throughout the rest of the coin... In other words, its not bright at all, just less tarnished and easier to see the design.I did not want it to look new, that would have been a crime.
