I've been wondering how to express the difference. I do have coins with real black
patina, and, yes, my old HP 6100C scanner
lamp did pull out all the green in the black, and besides it's black almost like onyx black. Not quite. But the black cover-up, which I suspect on the coins above, is black like lamp-black suspended in something or, as you suggest, like black touch-up paint. There is no green or any other magical metallic color hiding in it, no matter what kind of a
lamp you scan it with. I very much like the black when it's
patina, though it's hard to photograph. In hand, my best Serdca is practically black, but I have to illuminate and balance it so that it will be legible when posted or printed, and then also the green shows up more.
Here's my newest photo.
• 21 11 06 Æ31 16.92g
axis 6h
Serdica.
Caracalla, laureate,
head to r.
AVT K
M AVRÊ
SEVÊ ANTÔNEINOS.
Rev. Zeus std. l.,
scepter in
his l., holding
Victory on
orb proffering
wreath, to r., facing him. OVL PIAS SERDIKÊS, the epithet interrupted by the
Victory.
From Baltimore Show Nov. 2006, bpm; ex
Lanz 117, 928,
Still not
Varbanov.
I got it at the Baltimore show and stopped to see
Doug Smith on my way
home (I love to drive). He photographed it, too. That's with the greatest professional skill and with
his Canon, etc.
His is even greener than mine, yet the coin in hand in ordinary light is almost black.
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