Indentification

[danglyballs]

Hi I found this coin it appears to be gold but is covered in what i think is called patina. I'm not a collector but would really appreciate some advise on how I can identify what it is. I've read cleaning is a bad idea but I can't see any markings because of the coating. I can make out a bust or head which is quite pronounced and on the edge it looks like gold to me underneath but again I'm not sure. Any ideas or advice. If I can't clean it how will I know what it is. 

 

[mr-dead]

If it was gold it wouldn't have a patina and look like that in my opinion but I could be wrong.  You can bury a gold coin, dig it up in a 100 years and it will still look like the day you buried it.

Im sure someone here will recognise the coin

[danglyballs]

Hello Mr-dead i did read something about in certain circumstances it can happen to gold ( Boscoreale patina) I think it's called but I know absolutely nothing just scanned through it really. 

[mr-dead]

You could try taking the best picture you can on a white or black background and do a google reverse image search to see if it finds anything similar

 

 

[barney]

The coin is a roman Sestertius made of brass, and at a guess you found it metal detecting and the shiny bits are were the digger was not the best and caught it with the spade,if i can see the reverse i will Id the coin for you

[HawkHybrid]

I vote weighing it.

you can try soaking it to clear some of the layer covering

the coin.

 

HH

[barney]

it should weight 25-28 grams

 

[danglyballs]

Thanks guys HH it's 15g what's best to soak it in will i damage it? Barney the reverse has no visual features but I can feel something when I rub it. I had a look and it you may be right but it's hard to tell. Is it a good coin.

[sixgun]

i have watched quite a number of metal detecting videos on youtube. Gold coins come out of the ground like brand new, even after hundreds of years. This coin is not gold. It could well be a bronze Sestertius.

 

[danglyballs]

Sixgun yeah it was wishful thinking. Thought it might have been but it's a nice find digging tho. Cheers

[barney]

well if it weights 15 grams its a roman  Dupondius still brass sorry couldn't tell the size from the pic 

[HawkHybrid]

the usual recommended starting soak is to use distilled water.

(probably best to get advice from more experienced people

about this)

 

HH