Patina, patina...

coppercoins

I've noticed "patina" used here and in other places on occasion to mention the color of toning on a modern (19th or 20th century) coin. My education in coins tells me that "patina," as it is numismatically defined, is the green or gray encrustation on ancients. I doubt both could be right, could they?

Gemini

According to Albert Freys "Dictionary of Numismatic Names" Patina is described as an oxidation produced by certain soils and moisture upon copper coins.
This oxidation takes a black, brown, red, blue, or green color, according to the materials which have affected the surface of the coins.

I have also seen many a silver coin described as have a lovely patina or patinated surface which is not correct when describing the toning on silver.

nwcs

I have always understood patina to indicate a color variant caused by oxidation or chemical reaction. I guess it's from my experience in other fields. Never knew that numismatics would define it any differently.

Gemini

NWCS I was quoting from a coin dictionary as we were speaking of patina on coins but you are right there are other definitions no doubt.

Pushkin

Patina is a general term for the oxidation formed on the surface of any metal, not just copper or copper alloys.

The coin books vary all over the place in definition, from essentially the above to "gosh, I don't know".

The most general definition I've found in a coin book, and the one I use is "the toning on a coin".

The "ancients" guys use the term more often than the US coins folks do. There is nothing negative about the term. The word has a nice ring to it. Maybe someday somebody will write a song "Patina, Patina, .... I love my Patina".