Can someone define patina for me?

haletj · December 17, 2003 11:27AM

Like how they use it in auction catalogs...

Russ · December 17, 2003 11:29AM

On eBay and Teletrade, it's a fancy word for haze.

Russ, NCNE

nwcs · December 17, 2003 11:31AM

Patina is usually used to refer to the surface toning/oxidation/protective layer a coin has acquired.

coppercoins · December 17, 2003 11:37AM

In technical terms, patina is a crust that takes a long time to form and it's found on ancients, usually cleaned off with a mild acid.

For artists, a 'patina' can be a color that something has taken on, so some collectors use the term to describe 'toning' - same term to some.

Bear · December 17, 2003 12:10PM

It is a term that can cover a multitude of crimes and meanings. On silver coins, in its finest sense,

it can mean the finely oxidized skin, that gives the coin a beautiful ,old ,subdued luster of well cared for

silver. It can also mean haze, crud, ugly toning and just about anything else that is in addition to the origonal

surface of the coin.

sinin1 · December 17, 2003 12:25PM

for sellers, patina is a fancy word that should make the coin worth at least $5 to $50 more

jbsteven · December 17, 2003 12:27PM

is this worth $5 to $50 more?

stman · December 17, 2003 12:39PM

<< <i>is this worth $5 to $50 more? >>

Nope, why? well because it appears to be in a NGC holder.

DMWJR · December 17, 2003 1:00PM

Patina? As in Patina Jones? -- don't know her . . .

islemangu · December 17, 2003 1:25PM

I think on silver it's a reddish/brown/gold mix toning, like shades of rust. The light even skinned ones are nice, especially on barber halves.

Gilbert · December 18, 2003 12:51AM

I have taken it to mean "the appearance an item takes on with age" and so, similar to but not always synomous with "original but aged."

It appears that in coin sales, it has taken on a somewhat differing meaning - that of "I cannot adequately describe the unflattering color(s)

", so I'll call it "patina".

TWQG · December 18, 2003 2:32AM

Technically, it refers to the oxides of copper.

mgoodm3 · December 18, 2003 2:34AM

rust. (word used non-specifically for all metals)

Russ · December 18, 2003 2:39AM

Here's an eBay or Teletrade example of patina:

This would be called "a lovely milky blue patina gracing otherwise immaculate surfaces".

BTW, that's an example of what vinyl flips will do to proof coins.

Russ, NCNE

Can someone define patina for me?

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