Does anybody know what this is?

cohodk · September 21, 2007 3:18AM

Size is about same as a half dollar.

CIVITAS · September 21, 2007 3:35AM

It's a bronze follis of Tiberius II Constantine from 578-582 A.D. Unfortunately, it appears to have bronze disease.

JRC · September 21, 2007 7:48AM

<< <i>It's a bronze follis of Tiberius II Constantine from 578-582 A.D. Unfortunately, it appears to have bronze disease. >>

DARN, I WAS JUST ABOUT TO SAY THAT!!!

wait...what...?

Sapyx · September 21, 2007 11:13AM

<< <i>

wait...what...? >>

It's from the Byzantine empire. Constantinople mint, officina delta (mint branch office No. 4). ANNO GI means "year 7", dating this coin to 580/581 AD. The large "M" is the denomination-mark; M is the Greek number 40, and there were 40 nummi to a follis.

A very nice specimen, clear and readable, except for the verdigris - the pale green fluffy stuff on both sides, which can slowly spread and turn the whole coin into a crumbly mess if it isn't treated or sealed up nice and airtight.

cohodk · September 21, 2007 12:25PM

Thank you all for the excellant replies. What is the best way to remove or neutralize the verdigris?

Sapyx · September 21, 2007 1:32PM

<< <i>What is the best way to remove or neutralize the verdigris? >>

A much-debated question. Down the bottom of this old thread there's a few pointers. Personally, I've used:

Olive oil - takes a long, long time - patience! - I've got a quadrans of Claudius that's been sitting in oil for a few months now. I'm making progress.

The potato method - tried it only the once; didn't work too well for me.

Lab-grade concentrated ammonia - worked like a charm on a modern copper token, and much faster, but many purists are probably grinding their teeth right now at the thought of coins swilling around in industrial chemicals. I'd be reluctant to try ammonia on an ancient coin with the uncertainty about it's composition, and I wouldn't recommend anyone using heavy-duty ammonia without a heavy-duty ventilation system.

cohodk · September 22, 2007 12:12AM

I have some ammonia but I dont like what it does to copper so I will probably get the olive oil out and let it sit.

Thank you.

lordmarcovan · September 23, 2007 11:59PM

Off-topic, but speaking of that link, what ever became of Coindexter? I miss him.

Does anybody know what this is?

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