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 Replies: 40 / Views: 8,550 |
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Valued Member
United States
318 Posts |
I am awaiting delivery of my first 2 Roman coins (which do not need cleaning).  My question is: If I decide to purchase some "uncleaned" coins, how do you suggest I clean them and with what? What has worked best for you? Since I am new to this, would really appreciate things spelled out for me. I have done some searches here about cleaning old crusty Roman coins but am just getting bits and pieces. Would love to have it all in one place for a reference. Solutions, tools, etc. information would be greatly appreciated. I am one of those people that likes to see the before and after pictures of coins. I am looking to buy a group of uncleaned coins and take whatever time needed to clean them up. What have you done that works? Thanks! |
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Rest in Peace
United States
1729 Posts |
Do some searches on this forum, and you'll find all you need for cleaning crusty coins. Best soak: distilled water. Next-best soak: olive oil (some say it can stain some coins). Time frame for soaks: weeks to years. Tools: toothpicks; dental picks if you are picking away at heavy crust obviously separated from the coin surface. Best tool: patience.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
As already noted look for that Search tab and try looking up coin cleaning, cleaning coins, rusted coins, corroded coins, etc. Until you see them, don't consider any cleaning. Might ruin something.
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Valued Member
 United States
318 Posts |
Well, I tried searching again and found some good threads on cleaning these Roman coins.  Now I am having second thoughts on opening that can of worms. I have the patience and would love to see an old crusted coin turn into the nice looking coin it once was, BUT chances are I will wind up destroying a few in the beginning because I am learning and that will upset me. I am gonna have to think about this awhile. I am just gonna enjoy the 2 coins that are on their way to me for now. Cleaning crusted coins will be in the back of my mind until I decide what I am buying in the future.... cleaned or uncleaned. Thanks for everyone's help! |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Those who dig up coins have to clean them, because in a lot of cases, they are unrecognisable until they do.
"Don't clean coins" does not necessarily apply to ancients in this case.
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Rest in Peace
United States
1729 Posts |
Sei_691, of course, is correct, as in some cases the "patina" can be 1/8 of an inch thick. When I cleaned my first Romans, I was a little - ahem - too aggressive and scratched the coins I was cleaning. Luckily, they were common Constantines and not terribly valuable.
You have to start somewhere. Just don't get carried away to the point that you suddenly see a streak of bright, shiny metal on the coin you're cleaning. Plus in some cases a bit of dirt in the background can actually "highlight" letters and other features that stick up from the surface of the coin.
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
When you receive your coins post pictures. Once we see them we can give some advice how to proceed.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
I know some on this forum think cleaning coins is fun, but I am not one of those. Just like most people, I thought cleaning coins would be easy and the possibility of finding something rare was exciting. After several lots of uncleaned coins, I have come to the conclusion that they have been gone through with a fine tooth comb and about all you will find will be some poor quality coins if you are lucky. Many will be just plain slugs, only identifiable as once being a coin because it is round. You will pay about $2.50 per coin or more and will be lucky to have half of them be worth $1.50 after your labors.
I prefer to buy recognizable coins for a few dollars more. Perhaps $5 to $10 per coin. At least then I know I have something worth what I am paying. Many times the sellers have mis-attributed the coins and one can find great deals.
To be honest, there are some on this forum that have found rare coins among the uncleaned lots, but they are far and few between. Whatever you decide, we would like to welcome you here to this forum. Please post images of the two coins you have purchased. We love to admire the coins others have and we love to attribute them if that is called for.
Regards
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
People who start to collect ancients have to know that not all the rules for collecting moderns will exactly apply for ancients. Unlike a modern, cleaning an ancient that needs a cleaning will not reduce it's value, but actually in most cases make it's value go up, as long as the cleaning is done properly.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Quote:
After several lots of uncleaned coins, I have come to the conclusion that they have been gone through with a fine tooth comb and about all you will find will be some poor quality coins if you are lucky.  I have been considering trying an uncleaned lot, but I suspect uncleaned lots similar to "unsearched" modern lots--anybody with business sense is going to pick out the good coins, and sell the rest. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
The only one I bought, the 14 coin lot, the seller was pretty honest when they mentioned that the coins were in poor shape, but I got it anyway since the price was good (and I hoped that most would be attributable). And it did turn out that way, although with a lot of effort. And I found a rare one in the process. My case seems to be the exception I guess.
Edited by VisigothKing
02/12/2012 7:00 pm
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
While I agree that the uncleaned lots have been picked over and and any gold and silver coins have been removed. I don't believe sellers of bulk lots take the time checking the base metal coins unless something is clearly visible. I am one of those that enjoy cleaning coins, granted most are common and there are a lot of culls. But every once in a while a rare example does shows up.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
Quote:
I am one of those that enjoy cleaning coins, granted most are common and there are a lot of culls. But every once in a while a rare example does shows up. You are correct echizento. Once in a while something interesting turns up, but in my experience, at least 70% of the coins in an unclean lot are worthless or close enough to it. But if cleaning coins is what you like, then by all means. I remember ValiantKnight finding something just recently that was pretty rare. But how many did he have to go through to find that one coin and how much did he have to pay for the privilege of cleaning the rest? Here is an example of what I'm talking about. I have been needing a Carinus so I just purchased this coin for $2.25 at auction. For most uncleaned coins I would have to pay at least this amount and 70% of the time I got nothing for my money. This coin, on the other hand, is fully attributable, a coin that I have been wanting, and it's worth every penny I paid. It's a Carinus AE Antoninianus. Rome mint, AD 282. M AVR CARINVS NOB CAES, radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right / PRINCIPI IVVENTVT, Carinus standing left holding globe & sceptre, SKA in exergue:   I know I'm being a kill joy about unclean lots, but I have had some bad experiences. I also know many of you enjoy the experience of cleaning and attributing. I don't mean to take away from your enjoyment and hobby. But every new collector needs to be made aware that the likelihood of finding anything of value is, well, rare in and of itself. Regards, |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
It's good to hear collectors have found some good things in unclean lots. Best case for me would be to dig up coins myself, pick out the ones I want, and sell the rest.  |
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2596 Posts |
Before you buy uncleaned lots try to search Vcoins for uncleaned coins and they are usually around 5-7 for a good coin but they will turn out a good coin. I think you waist money on uncleaned lots unless you buy straight from the metal detector you know personally.
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Replies: 40 / Views: 8,550 |
Posted 02/11/2012 8:55 pm
