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 Replies: 19 / Views: 2,435 |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
They are a pretty poor lot. Are you new to cleaning? If so, they will be good to practice on. Some have potential. Cleaned or not, all these places have sifted the coins before selling on to you. You are highly unlikely to find anything of real interest, treat it as an education.
Chuck them in DW or OO, but anything with bright green spots keep separate.
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Pillar of the Community
3772 Posts |
'How long' depends on how well encrustations/corrosion loosen up - can take months.
You could first brush them to get some stuff off and after might have to pick with a toothpick or metal pick.
Many look like real culls and some have verdigris, so will be some work.
If you can get enough to look decent and properly identify them, then you might in the end have got your money's worth, otherwise consider it as a 'coin cleaning exercise/experience' kit.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
First of all cheer up :) We have all been there. The crud that they are coated with was picked up from the environment over the last 1700 years or so. It won't release it without a fight. Patience is your best friend here. I personally don't like olive oil, it is OK for silver but for bronze I prefer distilled water. You can try OO after DW doesn't work, but don't try it the other way round. Other people swear by OO it is personal preference.
Better pictures would allow us to give a bit more advice on individual coins.
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New Member
 Canada
20 Posts |
Pish, are the ones with bright green spots just a form of patina? So do you think soaking them in some oil for a week or two, then brushing and picking, rinse and repeat for a few months may help some? And yes I am very new to cleaning. Also collecting. I was browsing ebay after coming home from a birthday party (sometimes not a good idea if you have had a few drinks :)) and purchased a few uncleaned roman coins. They were around $7 each for a 10 pack. They turned out really well and I enjoyed IDing them :P. My wife noticed me spending more time with them and went for a purchase for the holidays. |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Your pictures are a bit dark so it's difficult to see if any details shows through the dirt. As for the price sorry to say but IMO that was way too high for these uncleaned lots. Hopefully with some soaking and brushing something nice might turn up.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
The ones with bright green spots could have the dreaded Bronze Disease. There is a lot of info on the internet about it. Basically the coin is rotting, and it is catching. It will spread to other coins and they need to be kept separate.
To determine whether they are BD infected, take a pin and gently rub the green bit. If it is dusty or flakey, then it is not good news. If it is solid, then it is nothing to worry about.
Soaking can take from a few hours to months. OO can darken a coin over time. If you are brand new to cleaning, I would split the coins and try some in DW and the others in OO to see which method you prefer. I spotted a couple that I would try in DW first, I will try and find them and post the images.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
OK images would be too small.
First link
Top row 5 from left
Second row 2 from left
Third link
Bottom row 1st coin
Of course you are only showing one side of the coin. There might be potential on the other sides. Use these coins for a bit of practice, you are not going to ruin a valuable coin, and it will pay dividends once you get your hands on some good stuff.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
1/8th of a kilo for that much? You could get an 1/8th of a kilo of good cleaned coins for that. I recommend you try and send those back, no method of cleaning will make any sort of return.
This does, however, give me hope that I can get a fair bit for the pile of uncleaned coins I'm sitting on.
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New Member
Canada
20 Posts |
Unfortunately I made sure I put the side with any sign of detail to the top. I have checked most fairly close with a magnifier and could not see any details on most. Some were as smooth as a baby's arse.
Ohh, I didn't realize that photo bucket is not showing the actual size. If you download it / open it you can view the full 4608 x 3072 image. I will also try and take some brighter pictures of the this and the other packs as well.
I will send an email to the company as see if anything can be done.
Thanks for all the tips guys. I will try to post the other pics tomorrow.
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New Member
Canada
20 Posts |
Also if it turns out the green comes off like dust or crumbles what can be done?
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
First thing, keep them separate from your other coins. Second, if you are keeping them, they need to go into distilled water after you have picked the dusty bits off. Every scrap has to come off. Then they go into distilled water for a soak. Chances are that the centre of the coin has the rot. Have a look on the internet for "bronze disease". Before you attempt any of the recommended "solutions" check back on the forum, there are some wacky ideas out there.
There is a product called verdi-care, available from the States, the shipping was extortionate to the UK. There is also another product, don't remember what it is called but it is available from dirtyoldcoins.com. It is possible that none of these coins are worth saving, but it would be good practice to try. That way when one of your good coins comes down with a dose, you will be able to deal with it. Even when apparently "cured" BD can recur, so you have to keep checking your coins, which is good practice any way.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3445 Posts |
Safe to say that you got 'hosed' on these. Try and return them if you can. If not clean them as best as you can and sell them in small group lots. You can probably recoup most of the money spent. It is a bit of work but will be an education for you.
Remember (Aeschylus' Oresteia - Clytmnystra the wife of Agamemnon)
"Zeus has decreed that we must suffer unto wisdom"
The 'folks' here will gladly help steer you if you decide to make a purchase. For that money we can find you a nice big bronze of Nero or some other nasty fellow.
Something to WOW the inlaws !
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New Member
Canada
20 Posts |
Thanks for all the tips :).
FVRIVS - So true.
One thing I would like to star collecting are coins depicting Macedonian shields. For some reason I keep going back to pictures of them online :).
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
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New Member
Canada
20 Posts |
wow, nice looking coin. This is my only shield so far and fairly crappy compared.  This was one coin 1 of the 3 batches. |
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Replies: 19 / Views: 2,435 |
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Posted 01/10/2015 5:38 pm
