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 Replies: 19 / Views: 3,188 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Thats why I havent tried anything harsh - its a female portrait! Dont want to wreck another one.
Looks like Its going to need a long soak. As mentioned, a dental pick cant stratch that stuff, so lets see what 1 month of oil does to it.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
Quote:
I think this is an example of EUDOXIA Giano is right I believe. Don't mess this one up. It could be worth a few bucks (many few if done right). |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Ive put it in oil, in a sealed container and I have put it in a room where I will forget about it for a few weeks. Id rather not muss up another coin!
Ill clean it very carefully, should I try and pick at it every week or so, or let it sit for as long as possible before attempting it?
Also, how many bucks is a 'few' bucks?
Edited by Ben
07/26/2012 1:57 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
If it is Eudoxia, a entry level coin is at least $20 USD. It's hard to say since you need to remove the dirt to figure out condition. Take your time, this could end up to be a very nice late Roman. Make sure no metal is showing and the patina is intact.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3229 Posts |
 with Gil-galad. |
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Valued Member
United States
209 Posts |
Nice, thought it was a nicer version of the meh Eudoxia I have, but I think your victory is doing something slightly different than mine. Looks like it will clean up nice if you take your time. This is mine, not as pretty - but it cost less than $2. AEL EVDO-XIA AVG - Diademed bust right, draped SALVS REI-PVBLICAE - Victory seated right on cuirass, pointing one hand at a shield inscribed with the Chi-Rho as she balances it atop a column with her other hand. Exe: SMKA 17mm/2.94g   |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Preliminary results: Where it was lightly scratched before has turned more into something doable, but the outer crust is rocklike still. I'm not sure if its worth leaving it in oil for the 8 months or so it could take to soften it up to the point where it will fall off...id rather have the coin! Id forget about it in such a time period.
Im cleaning off what I can very carefully, theres a harder layer still, so I'm cleaning down to that where I can and carefully breaking the outer layer to allow the oil to permeate into the rock. Continue advising me!
Also, where metal was showing previously (on the Chi Ro and a bit of the legend on the reverse) is more pronounced. Any quick fixed to stop it shining?
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Okay, update. I'm doing the second session of picking on this coin. Metal is still showing up bolder than I would like, but I do now have positive ID on the bust - it is Eudoxia. I am switching to a blunter needle, but I fear the encrustation may not ever come off, as it has hardly softened at all and I worry that I may scratch the patina getting it off. I also have fears that there may not be a patina under it.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
No expert cleaners out there? I dont want to ruin this one - they look pricey on Forvm! Theres little I could do - is it worth getting it cleaned properly? Otherwise, ill bury it, soaking in oil, in a tin and dig it up in 2 years. I dont much like the idea of that one personally!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4973 Posts |
don't know BB, when I have got through that really rock hard stuff I usually found bear metal unerneath. if on a pretty large poriton of the coin....hmmm. I think I would try the long term olive oil treatment...that is about your only option I think.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Benbyfield: Olive oil I think would be the best way to go.
However, you will have to be patient. I suspect that this coin may take more than a year or so (maybe more), in olive oil to have any real beneficial effect.
Dunk and forget, review every two months or so. The coin will most probably darken over this period, perhaps even turning black, but I think that will be a more than acceptable risk in this case.
You will be an older man after this process, so too will be the coin!
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Alright then, looks like long term soaking it is. Its had nearly 1 month already, so it can stay in its current container. I definitely wouldnt be happy if there was bare metal under the encrustment...
I will like the coin, hand of god and all. But if its worth £20, then ill be obliged to sell it...
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Update: After a long soak, I decided that its time for another brush of it with a toothbrush - very little difference to the encrustation but but when I rinsed it after brushing to dry and put it back in the oil I was horrified - bare metal all over the place! The patina was very thin anyway in these areas, but its still quite distressing.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
This sounds extreme but I have heard of experts in the field of cleaning coins using a scalpel... not your common craft scapel (with a flat edge) but a scalpel with a curved blade.
The action they use is similar to peeling potatoes... the blade is held nearly parallel with the coin and by making small circles turns the hard stuff into dust. Obviously if you hit metal you have to stop but by breaking the surface and removing some of the deposits inbetween each soak you will speed up the cleaning process dramatically.
They all say try not to apply pressure, just lightly but repeatedly... you will know if it is working if you are producing dust.
They also use diamond dusted dental tools...but insist that good knowledge of what the coin should look like is required as you dont want to remove any details. Again its a case of light circular motions, checking regularly what you are doing.
If you havent used this technique before probably best not to practice it on an expensive coin like yours since one slip and you could do irreversable damage.
Search online and you might find some PDF files explaining further these techniques. (There is a whole book somewhere which is quite in depth and covers a multitude of techniques)
Edited by DavidUK
11/27/2012 11:41 am
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Thanks - Ill look into it.
I havent been able to find a good picture of one in this kind of condition, which is why I'm hesitant on trying really destructive methods, but the look of it with all the bare metal showing says to me that it might be worth a try.
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Replies: 19 / Views: 3,188 |
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Posted 07/26/2012 1:49 pm
