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Roman coin help
coffeyce
Posts: 1,050 ✭✭✭
I just bought a 50 coin lot of roman AE3 -AE4 coins and this is my first time to do anything with ancient roman coins at all. Im wondering if anyone around has some expertise or insight to provide. These are the pictures I have I will be cleaning and electrolysis as well. I also bought The Handbook of Roman Imperial Coins. so any help/advice would be welcomed
V/r
Chris
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo106/coffeyce/Roman1.jpg
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo106/coffeyce/Roman2.jpg
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo106/coffeyce/Roman3.jpg
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo106/coffeyce/Roman4.jpg
V/r
Chris
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo106/coffeyce/Roman1.jpg
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo106/coffeyce/Roman2.jpg
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo106/coffeyce/Roman3.jpg
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo106/coffeyce/Roman4.jpg
0
Comments
<< <i>you're about to get real familiar with the constantinian dynasty >>
And its my least favorite type of roman coinage too.
Electrolysis is a last resort method of cleaning for severely encrusted coins. It will destroy a coin's patina! It is not to remove loose dirt!
Since those coins seem to have reasonable detail, if you really want to clean them up why not just soak them in distilled water for a few weeks. I bet you will be pleased with the results, and even if you're not, you have not done anything that can damage the coin.
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo106/coffeyce/Romn5.jpg
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo106/coffeyce/Roman6.jpg
I would:
Separate by similar obverse portraits.
Since it is Latin, the names of the emperors are fairly easy to pick out. Look at the common legends in your book and you will start seeing a pattern of titles that are used in a pretty standard order. DN or IMP CAES then emperor name and PF AVG or something like that will help you start narrowing down emperors and then whether the coin was from when they were a caesar or augustus.
Once you have piles of emperors, then sort them by the reverses. You will see a lot of "fallen soldier getting speared by Roman" "votive" (wreath with some combo of VOT ** MULT **) and various gods or emperors as gods holding things such as globes, victory as a tiny statue and et cetera.
Feel free to post the really tough ones and we will help. If you are having problems and feel like help one on one, I might be able to help so PM me. Once you figure out your duplicates you will probably be able to sell your cleaned off spares for a few dollars a piece and still cover some of your cost.
kinda out of my realm most my collection is world coin 1700-1950's counter stamps ect.
it will be interesting to see how they turn out once you start attacking them with the brush
look forward to seeing your progress
2 Constantine and 2 Valentinian
Omg they are hard too look up in the books I still cant find the one with the angel and "P M" on the back
[URL=http://s366.photobucket.com/user/coffeyce/media/IMG-20150215-WA0052.jpg.html][/URL]
[URL=http://s366.photobucket.com/user/coffeyce/media/IMG-20150215-WA0045.jpg.html][/URL]
[URL=http://s366.photobucket.com/user/coffeyce/media/IMG-20150215-WA0050.jpg.html][/URL]
[URL=http://s366.photobucket.com/user/coffeyce/media/IMG-20150215-WA0049.jpg.html][/URL]
[URL=http://s366.photobucket.com/user/coffeyce/media/IMG-20150215-WA0048.jpg.html][/URL]
[URL=http://s366.photobucket.com/user/coffeyce/media/IMG-20150215-WA0051.jpg.html][/URL]
[URL=http://s366.photobucket.com/user/coffeyce/media/IMG-20150215-WA0047.jpg.html][/URL]
[URL=http://s366.photobucket.com/user/coffeyce/media/IMG-20150215-WA0046.jpg.html][/URL]
What book are you using?
That would be Victory on the reverse, the PM I believe are control letters, I can tell you the SISC at the bottom puts that coin at being minted in Siscia (modern day Sisak, Croatia)
If I could see closer and read all the letters clearly I could help you a lot more than that
[URL=http://s366.photobucket.com/user/coffeyce/media/r1.jpg.html][/URL]
[URL=http://s366.photobucket.com/user/coffeyce/media/r2.jpg.html][/URL]
[URL=http://s366.photobucket.com/user/coffeyce/media/r3.jpg.html][/URL]
[URL=http://s366.photobucket.com/user/coffeyce/media/r4.jpg.html][/URL]
[URL=http://s366.photobucket.com/user/coffeyce/media/r5.jpg.html][/URL]
I'll see if I can find the Constantine Victory for you in a bit.
But I am having a hard time finding this combination of elements in the Aorta. Maybe I am off or not making out letters correctly.
I just pulled out four more nice ones (maybe VF) all Valens. some im little a bit at a time. thanks for the advice with electrolysis.
chris
(EDIT) Here's ten fresh ones I just cleaned and pulled out. im pretty happy with the quality even if not rare or valuable
[URL=http://s366.photobucket.com/user/coffeyce/media/Rome2.jpg.html][/URL]
[URL=http://s366.photobucket.com/user/coffeyce/media/Rome1.jpg.html][/URL]
I assure you that it will get easier to make out letters especially when you get more familiar with the common legends used by many emperors. Then even when the strikes are weak or certain details/letters have worn off you will be able to piece it together easily. Keep at it!