![]() ![]() Attractive natural toning can increase a coin's value, so one might want mention it. Silver coins with a subdued slightly toned silvery appearance are the norm and such appearance need not be described. ![]() It is not unusual for people to try to simulate old collection toning on a freshly toned coin but rarely will they get this varied degree of toning to look natural as it does on this coin. Many collectors considered this the most desirable type of patina on ancient silver coins, but that is still subjective. It has be handled occasionally which reduced the toning on the high points and open areas of the background while the toning is darker in the more protected areas. It was probably once cleaned to bright metal and has been in a collection for decades slowly toning. The look of this Galba denarius is that of old collection toning. You will find that nicely toned coins bring higher prices, although artificially toned coin that look artificially coins will usually bring lower prices, and experienced collectors know the difference. One should always remember that patina offers a protective layer on a coin that helps preserve them long term, so best to just let it form over time. Some collectors, especially inexperienced ones, prefer bright shiny silver coins, but most get over that as their experience level increases and they noticed the ones they own begin to tone naturally. An attractive natural hoard patina is best but since that is so rare, old collection toning is second best. More experienced collectors usually prefer toned silver coins and will pay a premium for attractively toned examples. There are two schools of thought about toning. The rough spot at the eye is die deterioration, not damage. This Euoboia tetrobol has been cleaned of all hoard patina or toning, but it has not be otherwise damaged and given time will develop an old collection toning that probably will look very nice. It is a personal choice and there is no firm rule as to how it will affect the value. Some collectors prefer coins with natural as found patina and some do not. There is wear to some high points of the patina, as well as a trace of encrustation over the patina on the reverse. This Larssa drachm has the original hoard patina, probably left intact as it is reasonably attractive with an even color over the entire coin. It is my personal feeling coins like this should not be cleaned and can be more desirable like this. Silver coins with attractive natural hoard patina are unusual but this Persian siglos has silver chloride (horn silver) on the reverse which does not detract. Processes used to clean silver coins usually turns them very bright but if done properly the surfaces are not harmed and will re-tone over time resulting in old collection toning. Only rarely is original hoard patina on silver coins attractive, so cleaning is usually necessary. Many groups of silver coins are found with rather ugly patina from a variety of silver reactions including silver sulfide and silver chloride (also known as horn silver) formation. I have never owned a gold coin with Boscoreale patina so in this one instance I have used an image that is not my own on this site. It can occur on coins from other sources and I have seen it on coins dating after AD 79. One way a true Boscoreale patina results is from exposure heat and possibly sulfur and is named for the Boscoreale hoard recovered from Pompeii after burial by the eruption on AD 79. Image courtesy of Classical Numismatic Group On rare occasions gold coins with a reddish brown discoloration known as Boscoreale patina. Usually any encrustations on gold coins are easily removed without damage to the coin, but there is on type of pinkish encrustation which I see more on medieval Islamic gold than ancient gold, which can be very difficult to remove and usually should be left alone. Many come from the ground looking as new. Unless buried in a corrosive or abrasive environment gold coins change very little with burial and rarely require significant cleaning other than washing off some dirt. This is a complex subject which I can only touch on here. There are also false patinas chemically induced or even painted on coins to hide over cleaning. Sometimes the two work together to form patina. While referring mostly to chemical changes to the surface, it can include some types of deposits on the surface. Patina is the natural surface changes which occur on ancient coins over centuries of burial or decades in modern collections. ![]()
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