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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,495 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
567 Posts |
Well, I'm back on my feet after getting pneumonia earlier this month. I had two weeks to lay in bed and read coin books and law books. I've had lots of fun sorting through my unidentifieds and uncleaneds in the to ward away the boredom. Here is a cleaning boo boo. I thought it was a Byzantine AE Follis, Constans II, standing emperor type(SBCV 1005). I've got about 20 of them so I figured what the heck, I'll try cleaning coins with citric acid. So in it went to a solution of citric acid and water  . It got the crusties off really well, but turned the coin a nauseating shade of coppery red. Needless to say it wasn't a Constans II but an Arab-Byzantine AE Fals, Minted at Ludd c.a. 70 AH (689-90 AD), (Sylloge Nummorum Arabicorum Tuebingen 203). The mint name is to the right of the M on the reverse. Imitative of SBCV 1005 with the standing emperor on the obverse. I should have known because it is thin and on a quartered flan that it was an Arab-Byzantine. Needless to say I won't be using citric acid again. I've been using a brass brush with some good success (see the post with the Justinian I nummus and pentanummium, they were cleaned with a wire brush). |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
I've done the same thing on a similar type coin.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3445 Posts |
Seeing you are already writing this one off. I would try something like 'liver of sulfur' on it. This particularly foul smelling stuff is used to 'antique' copper and brass. While I cannot guarantee what the results will be .... It should darken it quite a bit and possibly 'correct' the error. Many garden fertilizers also contain sulfur. You might try mixing some into an 'ointment' that will again darken the surface.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
I've had a similar experience using peroxide. One of them, the patina was completely stripped. I dropped it in some WD-40 and it darked it a little. Then used corn oil after that. I soaked it for several months which added a layer of protection to the coin and made it a little darker.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
567 Posts |
I've also heard of coating the coin in yogurt and burying it for a few months to give it a patina. I tried wiping a coin with oil and putting it in the oven to darken it, didn't work. Easiest is just not to mess it up in the first place. I;ve been using a brass "toothbrush" lately with great results, I think I'll stick with that for now.
As for this one, I think I'll leave it as is and keep it for a place holder. I already have some other Arab-Byzantine from Emessa, Ludd is a new mint for me. Litited emissions from that mint so it's worth keeping rather than putting it up for sale on the e**y.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
We all learn from our mistakes. I have learned from mine as well.
One thing I learned about ancient coins is that, slower the better. Be patient.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3445 Posts |
The fastest way is 'brimstone' .... If it smells like farts (sulphur) it will darken copper.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
946 Posts |
Quote:
Well, I'm back on my feet after getting pneumonia earlier this month. Hope you are recovered and wish you the Best of Health. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4973 Posts |
glad you're feeling better, pneumonia...man  . i had one stripped to nearly bare metal, and just having sit in olive oil for a while gave it this strange (but not unpleasant) pseudo-patina in just a couple weeks. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
567 Posts |
Yeah, it stunk. I missed a week of class and had to spend most of my spring break in bed. I thought it was the flu, but it was worse.
I had a few new coin books to keep me amused. Hans Herrli's "Coins of the Sikhs," Luke Treadwell "Buyid Coinage," Rekha Jain's "Indian Coinage," and Spengler/Sayles Turcoman Figural Coins set. It gave me something to do when I got tired of my casebooks (I'm in law school).
I have bags upon bags to go through still that I haven't even touched yet.
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,495 |
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Posted 03/23/2013 1:07 pm
