This
Trajan Aureus (approximately 18-19mm, 7.30g, 6-7h) has been worked on by a talented coin doctor. With only the 'after'
auction images, I cannot see the
work done. I suspect with the coin in hand using my
good quality 9 power magnifier, it might be difficult to see the
work done (I have not
had this coin in hand). However, with the 'before'
auction images for comparison, the
work done to this coin becomes readily apparent:
Severe gouges/scratches have been worked out of the
reverse field and staining added to mask this and to distract the viewer’s eye.
This coin
had a large scrape on the edge at 8 o'clock (viewed from
obverse and described in the ‘before’
auction listing) that has been hidden with new metal (or some other material) by the coin doctor (a marked increase is seen here in surface
area). The coin weighs about the same in the ‘before’
auction as it does in the ‘after’
auction, so if it is in fact new metal seen over the edge scrape this might be an indicator of how much metal was removed in doctoring the scratches/gouges on the
reverse.
A significant scratch under the
obverse portrait is seen to have been touched up by the coin doctor. Reddish staining/toning has also been added to the
obverse to try and mask the doctor's tracks.
The letter Q on the
reverse, originally with a large gash, has been repaired. The
border next to this letter Q, originally with a continuation of the same gash, has also been repaired.
The letters CO that start the
reverse legend, have been
tooled. As well, the letter C that ends the
reverse legend, has been
tooled.
An original small prominent die break on the
obverse border at 12 o’clock has been
reduced.
An original small gash on the edge, seen at 3 o’clock from the
obverse, has been
reduced in size.
