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 Replies: 20 / Views: 5,133 |
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Pillar of the Community
France
1591 Posts |
Here is a very nice 8 reales minted in Zacatecas, after the mexican independence. It comes from a river find, inside a clay pot containing over 40 silver coins - just used a light tooth brush to remove some dirt (I still have two dark spots to check, but I don't want to damage the coin - maybe I'll leave them). This is one of my favorite eagle, you can compare it to the previous one I posted (which is of a later date)    |
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Valued Member
United States
326 Posts |
That is a beautiful coin.
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Pillar of the Community
 France
1591 Posts |
Thanks :)
I'm glad to have won it, it's even better in hand than on picture.
And Zacatecas coin are usually not well strikes, that one is fine :)
I need to take better pictures though, I had no light this morning (used the kitchen light + a mini led one ... which gave odd colors and low light in the end ...)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5362 Posts |
Very nice - Zacatecas uses my favorite "real" eagle.
Soak the coin in acetone (pure - not nail polish remover with perfume). It should come off - NEVER use a brush because most brushes mark the coin and you will be able to see the effect under a microscope.
Edited by swamperbob
01/03/2012 12:24 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1610 Posts |
Wow, that is a nice 8 reales. The person who found a pot full of them must have been surprised.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
684 Posts |
Be careful with any rubbing. In my unfortunate experience it is not the soft plastic bristles that cause the damage, but the loosened dirt caused by the scrubbing which is rubbed into the coin.
If you need to clean, ROLL, not RUB, a q-tip with acetone on the coin.
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Pillar of the Community
France
1591 Posts |
Thanks for the tip :)
I usually never clean my coins, but this one needed a little ... dirt removal (what's left seems to be some oxidation).
Oh, I was wondering, how much a such coin is usually worth ? (to know if I paid too much or not)
Anyway, I like it :)
Edited by MathieuMa
01/04/2012 04:35 am
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Valued Member
Philippines
386 Posts |
Quote:
Soak the coin in acetone (pure - not nail polish remover with perfume). It should come off - NEVER use a brush because most brushes mark the coin and you will be able to see the effect under a microscope.  It might get off. But if its still there, just leave it the way, anyway the coin is a beauty |
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Pillar of the Community
France
1591 Posts |
I won't soak it completely, if I do something, it's just to remove the big black stuff after the date :)
The rest is perfect :D
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Valued Member
Philippines
386 Posts |
Please post another picture once you have done it  |
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Pillar of the Community
France
1591 Posts |
Sure I will, I have to take better pictures with more light anyway :)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1962 Posts |
Go at the area in question VERY cautiously with a toothpick, taking care to not rub (scratch) the surfaces with the loosened dirt, as was mentioned by WestwoodArms... A traditional similar method for spot removal is to use a rose thorn.
In concert with the acetone (remember, keep acetone well away from any flames... and it will eat at most plastics so use a glass or ceramic bowl), some very VERY careful picking at that area should remove most of it. I also hate a distracting spot like that on a piece and would also try to remove it, and the area in the reverse denticles which is safer b/c it's more well-hidden... Such careful spot removal isn't going to kill the coin, as the piece had/has slightly "conserved" surfaces anyway. In general, however, remember that an area of obvious caveman scratching can look even worse than a spot, especially if you know how it got there.
By the way, ditto on what Bob and Westwood said... don't attack the whole surface with a toothbrush or similar, particularly because you will rub the loosened dirt back across the surfaces and leave minute hairlines. That kind of technique should be saved for heavily corroded/encrusted salvage finds where you won't hurt it any more than what the ground/sea has done already...
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Pillar of the Community
Czech Republic
803 Posts |
Nice addition, Mathieu! It's my favorite eagle design, as well.
In terms of "cleaning", I usually do what was already suggested before - acetone soak and gentle pokes at the spot with a toothpick. If it doesn't come off right away, I just let it sit in acetone for a while longer.
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Pillar of the Community
France
1591 Posts |
Acetone works well :) I didn't wanted to remove the patina, so I tried to not put the whole coin in it. The result is nice, and the toothpick helped a lot. Here are the new pictures :   |
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Valued Member
Philippines
386 Posts |
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Acetone works well :) Nice one & congrats  |
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Valued Member
United States
326 Posts |
It came out looking even better. Did you buy the entire pot of 40 coins?
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Replies: 20 / Views: 5,133 |
Posted 01/03/2012 10:18 am
