Messalina from Aegae or just wishful thinking?

[areich]

Hi all,
I bought this coin (seller's picture) and now I think it might be Messalina from Aegae, like these:

[DEAD LINKS REMOVED BY ADMIN]

What I can see of the legend seems to match, CEBCACT []ECA[], the reverse legend AIGAEWN as well.
Did I get lucky with this 'interesting Greek coin' or am I just dreaming?

17mm, 3.65g

Andreas

[Dino]

Congratulations, looks like that's it.  You going to try to clean the obverse a little?

[areich]

Hah! I'm not going to touch it, even though it's just dirt I've had little success in the past getting
it off the gentle way and I'm not going to try any other.

Let's hope you're right!

[larry c]

Andreas, I've purchase several greeks that have that exact coating.
I think I can even name the seller judging by the picture.
I think when you get the coin in hand you will find soft clay
that has been waxed over. Careful picking with a soft tool ( toothpick)
will lift the clay of in large chunks, the wax tends to keep it from
crumbling. Do NOT soak it first, that will soften the patina and smear
the clay. They tend to be easy to clean using a scope & pin only.
Larry

[areich]

Thanks Larry, I have the coin in hand, I just forgot about it until now, so I didn't have my own picture.
I'm sure you're thinking of the right seller and you seem to be right about the wax.
The metal seems sound so a toothpick shouldn't hurt, I would like to get a little of the sand off around
the obverse legend. If it was a less valuable coin, I would try to lift it off with a needle but it's so easy to scratch
a coin that way, especially since I don't have a microscope.

[larry c]

Your right about the needle, easy to poke into the patina and
pop it off too. 
Soft tools only!
Here's a quick (poor) scan with a simular clay/wax coat.
No soaking just gentle picking around the details.

[areich]

Wow, that is nice work and a nice coin!
Mine didn't really react to the soft picking and now I've put it away again for now,
I know my temper.

[larry c]

Thanks, like my tag line notes:
“Do you have the patience to do nothing"
 

[areich]

I read that and thought it was very fitting.

Thanks for all the comments, after my initial disbelief I'm now sure it is what I thought,
the legend is a little clearer in hand. I won't pretend I bought it because I suspected something, it was just dumb luck.

Andreas

[areich]

I took the easy way out and sent it to a member of the German forum to be cleaned and here is the result.
A note: the sellers picture was not true to the coin's colors.

[Jeremy W]

They really did a great job.  What a wonderful find.

Jeremy

[Jay GT4]

Amazing!  Congrats.