New 'Masterpiece Portrait Gallery' Coin

[PtolemAE]

Haven't posted any gallery images in a while but here's a new one on the 'superb and masterpiece portrait' gallery:

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-78117

Another Ptolemaic bronze, of course, but unusually lifelike and high-relief for the type.  The Alexandria mint Ptolemy IV 'hemidrachm' (ca 35gm) is a fairly common type and the artistry is often 'ho-hum'.  This one is different.  And the coin just happens to have come from Forum Ancient Coins.  When purchased it was in need of cleaning, just basic good old dirt had to be removed. So this is the end result - a coin that just 'popped' once it done.  Hope you enjoy it.  And Thanks Again, Joe

I like this one enough to have made it the 'portrait image' for the www.ptolemybronze.com Facebook page (now up to 44 'likes').

Your comments and are welcome.

PtolemAE

[Randygeki(h2)]

Thanks for sharing it, an excellent  portrait!

[PtolemAE]

Thanks for sharing it, an excellent  portrait!

Thanks.  Hope many will enjoy seeing it.  Many Ptolemaic bronze coins were produced in such quantity that this level of artistry stands out.  It's often the size and weight that sets them apart from 'average' Greek bronze coins but here we know a sophisticated sculptor put his best into this particular die.  The tone, color, and surfaces contribute to the overall 'eye impact' as well.  One of the gems that has survived to convey this ancient artist's sensibilities to our modern eyes.  Tell your friends

When I viewed the uncleaned coin (in a photo of course) I was pretty sure I could see something nice 'through the dirt'.  The style looked good but the true color, surface quality, relief, and stylistic refinement were not really clear until it was cleaned.  It turned out even better than I expected.

PtolemAE

[Matt Inglima]

When I viewed the uncleaned coin (in a photo of course) I was pretty sure I could see something nice 'through the dirt'.  The stylelooked good but the true color, surface quality, relief, and stylistic refinement were not really clear until it was cleaned.  It turned out even better than I expected. 

Yes it is a wonderful portrait. You did a great job of cleaning it.  I'd love to see some before pictures of the uncleaned coin.

[PtolemAE]

When I viewed the uncleaned coin (in a photo of course) I was pretty sure I could see something nice 'through the dirt'.  The stylelooked good but the true color, surface quality, relief, and stylistic refinement were not really clear until it was cleaned.  It turned out even better than I expected.

Yes it is a wonderful portrait. You did a great job of cleaning it.  I'd love to see some before pictures of the uncleaned coin.

Ask ye, and ye shall receive.  The 'before' pix are Forum Ancient Coins photos so I think it's OK to post them here.  I liked the style and figured it might be amenable to a cleanup and that proved true.  I think the 'after' is nicer than this 'before'.  I had to enlarge the FAC original photo a tad to make it the same size (400x400) as the one I posted to the gallery.  So here they are side by side (before at left, after at right).  Opinions and comments welcome.

I didn't post the reverse on the 'superb portrait' gallery because it's not a portrait but I've added the same 'before and after' pair of those here as well.

The goal was to remove *dirt* and not mess up the actual coin surfaces.  The surfaces aren't absolutely smooth, there's some 'micro-granular' patina in places, but they're very nice and they're 'real'.  I carefully left real patina just as it was and just removed the grunge.  Imho that worked wonders and lifted the design elements into higher relief and awoke the true style and artistry of the coin.

Thank you for your interest.

PtolemAE