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 Replies: 15 / Views: 4,048 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
I'm just curious. I have a few nice coins with pitting. This pitting makes the coins look worse than they actually are. Does anyone know of a way to repair pitting on these coins?
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Valued Member
279 Posts |
can we see these coins?mabe looking at them can be useful for have some ideas....night jw,23:30pm in Italy I go to bed....
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Short of tooling the surface, I don't know of a way to to it.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4253 Posts |
Yes I can show the coins. The first is a Julian II Apis Bull Majorina I just picked up for a song (maybe there is a reason for the song, eh?):  The second is a Claudius I As I've had for some time:  |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Tooling is a way of cleaning the surfaces up and clarifying the lettering, but it is easily spotted, and although still saleable, usually makes the coin less valuable. The patina is almost always upset anyway, and I have seen artificial restoration of this.
Nobody has suggested VerdiCare on ancient bronze coins. Might be worth goving it a go on some cheapie ancients by way of experimentation.
I have seen some rather nice Julian 11 / bull reverse examples over the years, but they all have been justifiably a bit pricey.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
Quote:
I have seen some rather nice Julian 11 / bull reverse examples over the years, but they all have been justifiably a bit pricey. I have a nice one from Constantinople and just picked this one up because it was so cheap. I'm not wanting to fool anyone and I probably wouldn't sell this coin anyway. I was just wondering if there is a way to make it look better. The pitting on the Julian II isn't all that bad even though the image looks that way. But the Claudius As really needs some help. I know I've heard somewhere that the pitting can be minimized, but I have no idea how. BTW, what is VerdiCare and has anyone used it? Editorial note: I just looked up VerdiCare. I think it may be too late for these coins. Its a cleaner, not a restorer. Edited by Bing
01/06/2012 7:43 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1549 Posts |
I have seen posts exposing coins with pits filled with something akin to auto body filler and tooled back to a higher grade look. Usually these posts are accompanied by calls for the crucifixion of whatever crook would sell such a coin. I don't have the links but there was a coin in a major auction that was reconstructed in this way and came apart when the buyer tried to remove what he thought was wax with acetone. That was a while back. I suspect it happens less often than painted on patinas but I am sure it happens.
Seriously: I have coins with rough surfaces but many of them are getting less welcome in my collection as I am moving more and more to the preference for smooth but worn coins. I get the feeling that most people on this list are less bothered by surface problems than I am. I would suggest buying smoother coins rather than trying to make them.
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Moderator
Australia
16876 Posts |
The pitting is patina/corrosion that's been removed by some chemical or electrolytic means. The metal that used to be there in the pits is gone, and can't be put back. It can't honestly be repaired. "Tooling" is dishonestly repairing (or in most cases attempting to repair) such damage, and is considered only slightly better than counterfeiting in terms of numismatic ethics. So please don't try it.  All I can suggest is that maybe a good wax job would make the pitting less unappealing.  Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
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"Tooling" is dishonestly repairing (or in most cases attempting to repair) such damage, and is considered only slightly better than counterfeiting in terms of numismatic ethics. I certainly don't want to be dishonest nor would I like to be characterized in the same class as a counterfeiter or purveyor of any fake Ancients. I've been burned by these unscrupulous types in the past so I know how that would make anyone feel. My question was only intended to find a way to make these coins, and a few others I have, look somewhat better in my collection. I have tried ren wax on the Claudius with no real change in appearance. I may try some on the Julian II. Otherwise, I will leave them as they are. |
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
I hope you don't think I surgested that you tool the coins. I agree that it is dishonest and should not be done. Once the coins have become pitted there isn't much that can be done. RENWAX might fill in some of the small pits.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
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I hope you don't think I surgested that you tool the coins. I agree that it is dishonest and should not be done No, no. I did not think anything of the kind. And I hope no one here thought that I would be dishonest in anyway. I may be the most honest person on the planet, Heck, I have no idea how to "tool" a coin anyway. I didn't mean to open a can of worms. |
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
No not at all, I don't think anyone on this forum would consider tooling a coin.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
Personally, I wouldn't want to own a tooled coin... at all. To me tooled coins are fake in their own way, almost as bad as actual counterfeit coins. Just my thought on the matter.
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New Member
United States
1 Posts |
i repair ancients for jewelry not for sale...you can make a slip of art clay silver (.999) paint the coin with it then heat it... the clay burns off leaving pure silver the clay has a shrinkage factor of about 10%...it can be reapplied...basically a controlled plating
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
hscoppedge, would you have any pictures showing before/after of this treatment? It would be very good to know what this looks like.  As for the OP's coins--I like honest details; best left original, pits and all.  |
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Pillar of the Community
Bulgaria
843 Posts |
Edited by t0rress
01/29/2012 6:12 pm
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Replies: 15 / Views: 4,048 |
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Posted 01/06/2012 5:35 pm
