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Patina

 

[img]http://forumancientcoins.com/Coins/04783p00.jpg[/img]
An amazing rare blue patina.  Most coins this color are soft chalky and damaged.  Not this one.

[img]http://forumancientcoins.com/Coins/04770p00.jpg[/img]
A touch of red.

[img]http://forumancientcoins.com/Coins/04816p00.jpg[/img]
A spectacular green.

[img]http://forumancientcoins.com/Coins/04033p00.jpg[/img]
An unusual and very attractive lime green.

[img]http://forumancientcoins.com/Coins/04429p00.jpg[/img]
Notice some encrustation remains, but I wouldn't remove it.  This coin is perfect the way it is!

[img]http://forumancientcoins.com/Coins/04158p00.jpg[/img]
Like all the coins on this page, this one is worth far more with this beautiful patina than it would be without it.

[img]http://forumancientcoins.com/Coins/04007p00.jpg[/img]
A chocolate patina, lightly worn on the highpoints highlighting the design...wow!

[img]http://www.forumancientcoins.com/Coins/04595p00.jpg[/img]
Sometimes a coin can be improved by removing an uneven patina...not usually...not this one.

[img]http://www.forumancientcoins.com/Coins/04557p00.jpg[/img]
Near black highlighted by a red earthen fill (that is red dirt).  Would you clean it?  I hope not.

[img]http://www.forumancientcoins.com/Coins/04559p00.jpg[/img]
This blue-green must at least double the value.

[img]http://forumancientcoins.com/Coins/04369p00.jpg[/img]
Hopefully, you have the an idea what a patina is now and why it shouldn't be removed.  If you want to see more, take a look through FORVM's catalog. 

Patina

Patina is the oxidized metal that coats many ancient bronze and copper coins.  It is usually green, but can be many colors including blue and red.  The main reason you want to preserve it is that it is usually attractive and the coin under the patina usually isn't as nice.  A coin with an attractive patina is often worth more than a coin that does not have a patina at all.  A common coin, like a common Constantine dynasty AE3, that has been stripped of its patina down to bare shinny metal is almost worthless.