Definition: The patina of a coin is the layer of surface metal that has changed as a result of interaction with environmental agents or contaminents. On modern coins, a patina is generally considered to be undesirable damage to the coin's surface, and is often synonymous with tarnish or .
On ancient bronze coins, however, which have usually been buried in the ground for 1,500 to 2,500 years, the patina is not only desirable, but practically essential. The color of the patina on ancient bronze coins is usually green, and can range from very light green to a deep, lustrous, dark verdigris green. Sometimes patinas are seen in other colors, as well, such as blacks, reds, browns, and yellows.
Note: In ancient coin collecting, the word patina is often used in a semi-slang fashion to describe the surfaces of coins that actually lack a patina. For example, a Tiber patina refers to a coin that has no patina at all because it reposed in a freshwater environment (usually a river) prior to being found; a desert patina is actually a type of reddish soil adhering to the coin (which may or may not have a normal patina under the dirt.)
On ancient bronze coins, however, which have usually been buried in the ground for 1,500 to 2,500 years, the patina is not only desirable, but practically essential. The color of the patina on ancient bronze coins is usually green, and can range from very light green to a deep, lustrous, dark verdigris green. Sometimes patinas are seen in other colors, as well, such as blacks, reds, browns, and yellows.
Note: In ancient coin collecting, the word patina is often used in a semi-slang fashion to describe the surfaces of coins that actually lack a patina. For example, a Tiber patina refers to a coin that has no patina at all because it reposed in a freshwater environment (usually a river) prior to being found; a desert patina is actually a type of reddish soil adhering to the coin (which may or may not have a normal patina under the dirt.)
Pronunciation: paa-TEE-naa (in the U.S.)
PAT'n-uh (King's English)
PAT'n-uh (King's English)
Examples: The shiny, deep green malachite patina is as beautiful as it is rare.
