The triangle section is seen above the prow on some issues for example the following coin, and represents an elevated fighting platform from which attacks can be made on adjacent
ships, but your coin is not generally of this
style, and this coin is struck on a conical
flan (
obverse diameter is evidently smaller than
reverse diameter) whereas your coin is not:
Your coin is a genuine ancient coin. As Jay says, when I say
imitative, I mean that perhaps it was not an official
mint issue.
Fabric refers to the physical shape of the
flan and how the
flan reacted to the strike of the coin, which will depend on its original physical shape and manufacture process, its metallurgy, and the nature of the strike. Recognising
fabric is not an easily taught subject, but rather one that one learns gradually over years handling many coins. For example, one can see whether a
flan was made in an one sided open mould or a two sided
sandwich mould, as there will be a central edge seam which is often offset in case of the latter. In case of the former, it could be a conical mould in which one
side of the coin is wider than the other
side, or a water drop shape whereby one
side is flat and the other curved. Sometimes
reverse dies were made convex so the coin
reverse is concave. Sometimes there are typical edge cracks. Sometimes a coin is typically struck with dies smaller than the
flan diameter and sometimes the other way round. Sometimes there are typical casting depressions or blow holes; either of the latter indicate two sided moulds. Sometimes not. Either one or two sided moulds may have casting sprues (either one
per coin, or two, depending whether the mould is linear or tree shaped), but sometimes one sided mould coins have no sprues, being
cast in a drop. There may be centration holes if the flans were lathed or clamped eg to remove sprues or edge defects. Another factor is how round a coin is and what made it round. Some coins have flattened edges like a fifty pence piece and may have been cut from plate. One looks to see whether the edges are flat or raggedy and if there's a seam or evidence of a removed sprue. When all factors come together a coin may be described as having a well made
flan, but that's a combination of many ingredients. In short, there are a myriad things to look for. In the case of your coin the
fabric, size and
obverse style are typical of the coins of 90-85 BC but the
reverse design prow is untypical of that era.
Sometimes coins are just too badly worn to give a secure
identification, and no amount of cleaning can restore missing material. I think that applies in the case of your coin, and it may never be possible to say much more than that it is a genuine ancient coin, of the
type of a
Republican as, but perhaps
imitative. For
Republican bronzes, stylistic variations in even excellently preserved examples don't command any value premium; it goes almost without saying that a coin which cannot be securely identified is not going to be of much value. At least not financial value, but should you start collecting this series as a result of this coin, it might have later sentimental value.
I have no recommendation as to how to clean this coin, as I never clean my own coins, mainly because I buy coins that are already in a condition (either cleaned, uncleaned or partially cleaned) that I want them to stay in, but also partly because I'm not a cleaning expert and I don't want to risk removing material that may evidence the original design or that may be
part of a 2000 year old protective
patina. When I want a coin cleaned (I say "want" rather than "need", as whether to clean a coin at all is a subjective
choice based on my own personal preferences and my own perceptions of value) then I ask an expert to do it for me. You own the coin and you choose what to do with it.
