FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board

Numismatic and History Discussion Forums => Coin of the Day => Topic started by: Curtis JJ on February 01, 2023, 08:05:09 pm

Title: Another Green Patina Gordian III
Post by: Curtis JJ on February 01, 2023, 08:05:09 pm: I haven't posted a Coin of the Day before (just a Forum COTD), so not sure if they require any special qualification beyond a coin one wants to show today... But seeing kc's beautiful green Gordian III reminded me that I recently bought one myself, and thought it had one of the nicest patinas in my collection.

I bought it for my "captives" collection (under Victory's shield), but was also interested in the Adrian Lang Collection (Leu Auction 12, l. photo, [ACS LINK] (https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=9492718)), and recognized it from George His' well-known collection of Gordian III (CNG 69 and Wildwinds "plate coin," r. photo, [ACS LINK] (https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=235177)), which Leu had overlooked.

Gordian III Sestertius (31 mm, 20.72 g). Rome, 244 CE. RIC 337a.
(https://www.imgur.com/HtMfNrf.jpg) (https://www.imgur.com/0hTFgbz.jpg)

Both previous collectors (Adrian Lang & George His) collected minerals first, before becoming coin collectors, and later worked in professions related to geology/mining. It made sense to me those interested in minerology would be attracted to a coin with such a rich patina.

For those who like coin-in-hand videos, it's the only way I felt I'd captured the range of colors/textures: Imgur [LINK] (https://www.imgur.com/j3sI5gb.mp4) or Youtube [LINK] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GydHGhFl1jM). But here's the "comic strip" version, showing some of the different colors:

(https://www.imgur.com/YrXyQg5.jpg)
Title: Re: Another Green Patina Gordian III
Post by: Jay GT4 on February 01, 2023, 08:07:22 pm: Spectacular!
Title: Re: Another Green Patina Gordian III
Post by: quadrans on February 01, 2023, 08:41:04 pm: Great 🤗👍
Title: Re: Another Green Patina Gordian III
Post by: Molinari on February 01, 2023, 08:50:27 pm: Great coin!
Title: Re: Another Green Patina Gordian III
Post by: Virgil H on February 02, 2023, 12:49:28 am: Simply lovely.
Virgil
Title: Re: Another Green Patina Gordian III
Post by: LordBest on February 02, 2023, 07:54:53 am: Beautiful!
Title: Re: Another Green Patina Gordian III
Post by: Joe Sermarini on February 02, 2023, 10:23:16 am: My earliest collection was also minerals and I love a patina that looks like stone. Very nice coin.
Title: Re: Another Green Patina Gordian III
Post by: Mat on February 02, 2023, 10:38:48 am: Beautiful coin. Love it.
Title: Re: Another Green Patina Gordian III
Post by: arizonarobin on February 02, 2023, 12:50:12 pm: A really beautiful color and spectacular surface!
Title: Re: Another Green Patina Gordian III
Post by: Curtis JJ on March 18, 2023, 02:06:38 pm: I'm starting to notice a common theme... Another mineral collector-turned-numismatist (or two more): Clarence Sweet Bement (famous early 20th cent. Philadelphia collector, coins sold at Naville Ars Classica VI-VIII & by Henry Chapman).

T. Comparette (Descrptive Catalogue; ANS: 1921) relates that J.P. Morgan (also had a notable ancient coin collection in addition to everything else) bought Bement's mineral collection for the American Museum of Natural History, calling it the "finest ever made by a private individual."
https://archive.org/details/descriptivecatal00beme/page/n10/mode/1up (https://archive.org/details/descriptivecatal00beme/page/n10/mode/1up)

I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but still I find it very interesting how many ancient coin people were into minerals first!
Title: Re: Another Green Patina Gordian III
Post by: gallienus1 on March 25, 2023, 04:56:41 am: They truly look to be beautiful Curtis JJ. The "comic strip" method you use shows how they would look in the hand very well indeed.

Regards,

Steve