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 Replies: 14 / Views: 1,369 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4973 Posts |
Ok guys, I've never seen this before. I just baked a batch of coins...i just love the smell of fresh baked coins straight out of the oven  ...anyway, all was good , look at this group...note the nice costantine..i'll show him off later..  then look at this group...  a nice licinius i'll also show of later but what the heck is up with the blue coin? when I put it in it just looked like another coin, a pretty low grade job, didn't feel strange or anything, when I pull it out cover in this blue stuff, here's up close...  and on my little desk..  note you can see the blue stuff flaking off. anyone know what the heck is going on? Edited by chrsmat71
09/20/2012 10:01 pm
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Pillar of the Community
3352 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
614 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1316 Posts |
Chrsmat71, how do they taste, if need to sweeten them up, put some chocolate fudge on them, very tasty.... |
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Moderator
 Australia
16868 Posts |
I would assume that this particular coin was covered in a patina comprised of dark greenish-coloured hydrated copper compounds; placing them in the oven removed the bonded water and the compounds reverted to their anhydrous forms. But I'm guessing a chemical explanation isn't entirely what you're after. Clearly, this particular coin was sourced from a different location than the rest of your coins, if this is the only one that has done this. Naturally occurring "Blue patina" coins are sought after by some collectors, but as you've noted, the blue powder is often much more fragile than a regular patina. Depending on the exact compounds in question, the process may be reversible, just by leaving them exposed to moist air for an extended period. However, it's also a possible sign of artificial patina that's been painted on. And I'm afraid I can't hold it in any longer, and must ask... WHY are you putting your coins in the oven?  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
4973 Posts |
Thank you sap, I did want the chemical answer...thanks much! Yeah, it was pretty greenish before the bake now that you mention it. they had all been coins I was cleaning and had been soaked in distilled water. I bake to dry them before I wax them....wait...I'm I doing something stupid? if it's just weird I'm ok with that...but I got the idea somewhere on this board...so I'm not the only weirdo! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
That other "weirdo" may be me . But I only do it to coins with BD, like my Jovian had. I wouldn't really do it to regular coins in the fear that they turn too dark or dull or whatever. |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
It seems to be regular practice to bake coins that have been soaked to evaporate any water in any crevices before sealing them up to avoid bronze disease later in life.
Nice Licinius and Constantine :) I look forwards to you showing them off later :)
Was this an uncleaned lot? If so recieving a couple of collectable coins you did well. I fished my junk out of oil the other day and a couple of the roman ones showed some details more than they had. I identified a portion of fallen horseman but it can only be seen with the eye, a camera can't pick it out yet. Really my first batch of uncleaned was such a fail I don't think I will do that again unless I find a source of coins I could trust.
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Valued Member
United States
366 Posts |
Learning more every day... I didn't realize that baking ancients was a common practice.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2589 Posts |
I didn't realize people cooked coins, learn something new everyday!
Are you going to remove the blue stuff to see the details? Or if you already have tried are the details still present or have they been destroyed?
-XoG
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4973 Posts |
daveuk, they were from multiple lots...not just one. most of the uncleaned lot coins turn out to be stinkers in my experience....from now on I'm only doing the "premium" uncleaned coins for the most part. judging from saps chemical answer, its seems baking does a good job of removing the water from coins that had been soaked. I have heard of coins darkening in the oven as VK mentioned, but I haven't experienced it...but I don't do it long...15 minutes at 190 degrees. xog...don't know, haven't tried to salvage it yet, will try this weekend probably. It is kind of weird  , my wife thinks I'm crazy...but she thought that long before I got into coins.  Edited by chrsmat71
09/21/2012 11:41 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4973 Posts |
update...looks like there was a coin under that "smurf dung". I just brushed off the loose stuff (that took a bit of work) and waxed.. not the best pictures but I think it is.. Constans, AE23. DN CONSTA-NS PF AVG, pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right / FEL TEMP-REPARATIO, emperor on galley left, holding Victory on globe and labarum, Victory seated to right at the helm. Mintmark: TRS. (I can barely pick this out in hand)   |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
I have a fallen horseman with similar colouration, it looks like a similar portrait so I wonder if there is something about this coin which makes it prone to such things.  The reverse is so faint I can make it out with my eyes but cant capture it on film as there is not enough contrast for the camera to pick out the details. This is after a soak in oil which seemed to get rid of the colour to some extent... Its not a good coin none of the legends are visable so I am just experimenting with oil/distilled water to see if it will improve at all. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4973 Posts |
oh, that's neat D.UK, it does look similar. before I baked it the coin had a nice green patina...see sap's explanation above...but if it has been soaked in water I wouldn't think it was caused by drying like mine. strange. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
I cleaned and cooked my uncleaned lot of coins....from CARTHAGE....ahh the smell of freshly baked Carthaginian coins...
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Replies: 14 / Views: 1,369 |
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Posted 09/20/2012 10:16 pm
