Patina question

[Damian M]

After reading the articles and reviewing the pictures on patina, i still have some questions. When i think of patina, i think more of a green or brown finish on bronze coins. To what point is dirt, considered part of the patina? Ive seen some coins advertised with a "desert" patina, that looks more like dirt to me, than finish on a coin. Thanks in advance.

[Jay GT4]

You are correct, real desert patina is just very hard dirt, clay or sand that has attached itself to the coin surface.  The real patina is under it.  However the sandy patina usually hides a pitted  or problem surface.  That's why some people will fake a desert patina, it can hide defects in the coins  or just make a coin bolder.

[SC]

Genuine desert or sandy "patina" looks very pleasing.  That is why the compacted sand is left on the coin.  As Jay explained the "patina" part of the term is nonsense as it is dirt and not patina, but the term has been around a long time and is well understood so it sticks. 

Some coins with sandy patina have beautiful black patina under the sand.  They still look nice if the sand is all removed, but the contrast of sand and black looks nicest.  Others, as Jay noted are not so nice underneath.

Then there is the fake - sand and glue - stuff......

Shawn