Lucius Verus can it look any better?

[manpace]

Got this gorgeous Lucius Verus sestertius.  Wonderful patination, but notice it's blistered on the reverse.  I think the obverse used to look like that too, but the previous owner attempted to fix the obverse, with pitting the result.  Not sure.

I don't suppose there's good patina under any of that ugly stuff on back?

[renegade3220]

I think you are right.  I would leave it alone; IMO any attempts to clean this further will results in disappointment. 

[bruce61813]

The pits and blisters bother me, I would watch this coin closely for BD, it may require soaking in a mix for neutralizing BD.

Bruce

[SC]

Yes, this looks like a BD susceptible coin.  It may even have active BD in some of the pits.

If the surface was pit-free I would try to remove the encrustations on Verus' face and on the centre of the reverse with a salpel.  However, given the presence of many pits I fear that these are not simple malachite encrustations that would "pop off" but are instead the crusts on BD pits. 

I would leave it as is and watch for BD.  Maybe store it near a silicate pouch.

It is a great coin and hopefully it does not decay.

Shawn