Hardened Dirt On Celtic Silver - Soak In Olive Oil Or Soapy Water?

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Author	Replies: 6 / Views: 1,288
gerio2 Valued Member United Kingdom 112 Posts	Posted 11/30/2022 1:32 pm I've a small Celtic silver coin the detail of which (and hence clearer ID) is partly obscured by hardened dirt. I'd quite like to soak it to see if the dirt would gradually come off. Olive oil for a couple of weeks was very successful with some Roman bronze but I am unsure of how it will work on silver. Any thoughts? Or soaking in water? Soapy water? Or just don't go there? (!) PS I'm pretty sure it is dirt rather than oxidisation. Report this Post to the Staff

Keith67 Pillar of the Community United States 6628 Posts	Posted 11/30/2022 2:09 pm We would love Report this Post to the Staff
HondoB Bedrock of the Community United States 25669 Posts	Posted 11/30/2022 5:02 pm gerio, how about starting with a conservative approach - acetone soak overnight just to see. You might be pleasantly surprised, and at the very least no harm will be done. Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures Report this Post to the Staff
T-BOP Rest in Peace United States 18456 Posts	Posted 11/30/2022 5:40 pm with the acetone soak and maybe use a little toothpick and Q-tip going over . Report this Post to the Staff
gerio2 Valued Member United Kingdom 112 Posts	Posted 12/01/2022 05:33 am Thanks for the replies - acetone I have. Will try that. Thank you! Here are some pictures as requested. CELTIC, Corieltauvi, 45-10 B.C., Silver unit, South Ferriby Type, 14mm, 1.09g Report this Post to the Staff
sel_69l Bedrock of the Community Australia 21788 Posts	Posted 12/01/2022 07:33 am I suspect that the black stuff is a complex of silver / copper oxides and sulfides. Shallow corrosion scarring may be underneath. Remember, this coin was probably recovered from soil contact burial, and most probably had a primary cleaning already. That would explain it's current appearance. Try a soaking in sealed small container of acetone first, but I don't think that will do much good. To remove, it will require physical removal with a Q-tip. Patience needed. Report this Post to the Staff
gerio2 Valued Member United Kingdom 112 Posts	Posted 12/01/2022 2:22 pm Yes, I'm going to be very cautious. I was just hoping I might get a bit more definition of the horse's legs. But I'm not going to push it. Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 6 / Views: 1,288

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