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Any coin experts around?
- Thread starter BaZ87
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Soldato
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If it's gold, it doesn't corrode.
Is it actually a gold coin?
Similar coins on ebay going for £500-£2,000
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You sure? Looks like it says Justinian to me on the front.
While I'm certainly no expert, if it's genuine it'll be from the later Roman period (the back of the coin indicates it was minted after the foundation of Constantinople by Constantine in the first part of the fourth century), but likely before the Roman withdrawal from Britain in 410. Those who are doubtful it could possibly be real need to get googling; there are much older Roman coins in far better shape from across the empire and beyond.
I am struggling with the writing on the coin, but the face looks similar to Jovian, Valentinian I, Valens (I think I see a V, A, E and N on the coin; he ruled in the East where the coin was likely minted, and looks to be wearing army gear, fitting for someone who would eventually die in battle) or Gratian. Given three of them are from the same dynasty there's bound to be some physical similarities. I doubt it's Justinian, most of his coins are minted head-on, and although coins of that period have been found in Britain, it's a rarer occurrence than coins from when the Romans occupied the country, and injected coins into it (Britain seems to have been supplied in this way rather than a continuous influx of coinage from the continent, particularly in the early-imperial period).
I am struggling with the writing on the coin, but the face looks similar to Jovian, Valentinian I, Valens (I think I see a V, A, E and N on the coin; he ruled in the East where the coin was likely minted, and looks to be wearing army gear, fitting for someone who would eventually die in battle) or Gratian. Given three of them are from the same dynasty there's bound to be some physical similarities. I doubt it's Justinian, most of his coins are minted head-on, and although coins of that period have been found in Britain, it's a rarer occurrence than coins from when the Romans occupied the country, and injected coins into it (Britain seems to have been supplied in this way rather than a continuous influx of coinage from the continent, particularly in the early-imperial period).
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Only if it's pure gold. Which it's not likely to be. It would be an alloy. Which does corrode..
Google image search: gold Roman coin.
I would be hiring a mini digger this weekend and dig the rwat if the garden up.
Yes, and unless they're very high quality gold, which you can tell from the colour and lustre, they're tarnished. Have a look for yourself.
The coin in the image looks brand new. It shows little to no signs of wear and the appearance of the metal says to me it's low quality gold or another alloy altogether.
The symbols on the back of that coin point to it being a Follis, not Roman but Byzantine and minted in Constantinople. Probably not worth a lot:
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id...Q6AEIRTAI#v=onepage&q=follis with con&f=false
http://www.n3coins.com/byzan.htm
You could send pictures to the Britsh Museum for identification:
https://finds.org.uk/
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id...Q6AEIRTAI#v=onepage&q=follis with con&f=false
http://www.n3coins.com/byzan.htm
You could send pictures to the Britsh Museum for identification:
https://finds.org.uk/
Probably best to decide if it worth anything first
Soldato
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Nice find, where abouts was it found?
I would say it's about the 9th century between 801 -900.
Looks a bit like king Alfred on the coin.
Saying this, I've been watching the last Kingdom series so I might wrong.
I would say it's about the 9th century between 801 -900.
Looks a bit like king Alfred on the coin.
Saying this, I've been watching the last Kingdom series so I might wrong.
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Evidently you don't 'know your metals' very well. Or perhaps you don't work with gold much?
Gold does not corrode in ANY way (apart from when submerged in certain acids - like hydrochloric acid). Gold coins and other artifacts buried in the ground (or kept anywhere else) will come out hundreds (or a thousand) years later in pristine, totally untouched condition - absent any form of corrosion. All they need is a good wash.
Again, learn to read. I clearly state it's unlikely to be pure gold and rather an alloy. Which do corrode.