Looking to buy my first ancient...and I wanted some insight on cleaning potential. I have read and seen many of your projects...but was not sure how to tell what is "cleanable" and what is just the given patina...
Here is a coin I was looking at, wondering is this the end product, or would this have an appearance change with a cleaning?
I don't think there's much cleaning to be done on this coin. With the exception of perhaps a little light reddish dirt (?) above Nero's bust it looks like it's a pretty clean coin. I'd leave it as is.
The patina is already somewhat thin as you can see from some of the high points on the coin on both sides. As everyone said, cleaning may not do the coin any good.
If you search ebay for "uncleaned roman coins" you will be able to see what a dirty coin looks like. Cleaning coins is a great way to learn but the groups that you buy are often full of "culls" or blank disks under the dirt. If I could keep two or three coins out of 10, I counted myself lucky.
ANY attempt at further cleaning will be detrimental. It is quite a pleasing coin as it is, and certainly doesn't need improvement. To clean further would be do it an injustice.
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