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Semi Cleaned Coins

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Valued Member

Canada
88 Posts
 Posted 02/06/2013  4:46 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add Hatter to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
I am working on "a lot" of uncleaned coins right now.

Here are some results of cleaning over the past few weeks. The coins have been in distilled water and have been brushed every other day.

I would appreciated any feedback on the coins and if anyone thinks they are done with cleaning- I would hate to over clean them.

The last coin (I believe) is a little bit of silver.

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Ben's Avatar
United Kingdom
4208 Posts
 Posted 02/06/2013  4:49 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Ben to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Looking good! Some nice coins. I dont know if the last is silver- you'd need to post clearer pictures.
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bobbyhelmet's Avatar
United Kingdom
2838 Posts
 Posted 02/06/2013  5:01 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add bobbyhelmet to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
You've done a good job, clean and the patinas are still intact - I think your probably finished.

Some of them look pretty good, on to the attribution now
Edited by bobbyhelmet
02/06/2013 5:03 pm
Valued Member
Canada
88 Posts
 Posted 02/06/2013  5:15 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Hatter to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Should I continue to clean the coins using distilled water and brushing? Here's another shot of the "silver coin".

Semi-Cleaned-Coins

Semi-Cleaned-Coins
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Masis's Avatar
United Kingdom
946 Posts
 Posted 02/06/2013  7:44 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Masis to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
It is good you are endevouring in the coin cleaning and discovery process.
Below is my opinions, of what I see.
When I started, years ago, uncleaned coins were the first and easiest Roman coins for me to get, most were very low grade copper slugs, a few were okay, one was a gem.
So, I've done a lot of this in my experience.
The positive is that now know not to make those errors if I get an uncleaned coin.
Most of all, be patient & AVOID ELECTROLYSIS.

#1 Valens, a copper coin, nothing more to clean.
#2 Constantine II, nothing more to clean, the danger now is of removing the patina.
#3 Aurelian, the original silvering has corroded into "horn silver", basically it is a black, flaky build up. If you try to clean the result will be a pitted AE (bronze) surface.
#4 Valentinian I, (good example) no more cleaning needed.
#5 Gallienus, a Centaur/Sagiterius on the back, perhaps a little cleaning around the Radiate crown. By his reign, the Antoninianus had only about 15% silver to it.
#6 Urbs Roma, do not clean, as the patina seems to be wearing off, as has happened on the reverse.
#7 Constantius II, though some corrosion remains, the choice is remove it and have a very pitted coin or leave it. It seem to be an Official Issue, from the Siscia mint, and is common.
#8 Constantine I, Siscia mint, leave as it is, the soil dirt highlights the features.
#9 Constans, leave as it is.
#10 Constantine I? Obverse fine, reverse overcleaned.
#11 Gratian? Copper. Some black encrusation is seen on the obverse. Maybe a soak in a salt-water solution in a jar/small container might work off that encrusation, anything acidic will corrode the coin.
#12 Cannot make out the obverse legend, ....STANTIS...? Obverse okay, reverse overcleaned.
#13 Constantine? Obverse overcleaned, reverse a light clean needed, nothing abrasive.
#14 A plated denarius of a young Marcus Aurelius? Cannot be cleaned as it seems corroded.
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echizento's Avatar
United States
23731 Posts
 Posted 02/06/2013  8:28 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add echizento to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
You seem to be doing a good job on cleaning. When you have done it for a while you will learn when to stop. It's good that you are learning on lower grade examples so if you make a mistake it wouldn't be a costly one. Keep up the good work.
Valued Member
Canada
88 Posts
 Posted 02/06/2013  9:03 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Hatter to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Just to reply to the over cleaning comments. The only method of cleaning that I have used is distilled water and brushing with a kitchen brush. I take it you can overclean using these methods.
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chrsmat71's Avatar
United States
4973 Posts
 Posted 02/06/2013  9:20 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add chrsmat71 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
i think 4 may clean up some more...nice lookin' coin either way.

i would hit number 8 some more.

those are looking nice hatter.

if your just using distilled water and a soft brush, I don't think you can really overclean? if the coin is coming apart with that treatment, it's pretty much a lost cause anyway.

may want to bake your coins when you done to make sure all the water is gone!
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Masis's Avatar
United Kingdom
946 Posts
 Posted 02/07/2013  11:12 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Masis to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:
I take it you can overclean using these methods.-Hatter


Well I can only assume that the coins in question were already in that condition.
These grades of coin often have a fragile patina to start with.
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steve123's Avatar
Canada
805 Posts
 Posted 02/07/2013  3:45 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add steve123 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Hi, Masis:

You seem to be very knowledgable in the cleaning process. I have just started cleaning my first lot of Romans. Are you saying that if a silvery spot occurs, it is overcleaning? What are the odds of actually finding a silver coin. The question is: When do you actually know when to stop cleaning? Don't mean to hijack the thread but thought the answer may be helpful to all.

Thanks,
Steve
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Ben's Avatar
United Kingdom
4208 Posts
 Posted 02/07/2013  4:23 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Ben to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Steve - you'll some people say that as soon as a full ID is possible, the coin is clean. I personally dont htink so. When I stop cleaning is when I feel that further cleaning would detract from the coin (i.e. destroy patina,remove dirt highlighting the features, remove character). Personally, I have over cleaned many coins - but they are mine and I have no intent to sell most of them so I clean them to the state I want them in.

If silver appears on a bronze coin you've overcleaned it with acid. If a bronze spot appears the patina is breaking off. Ovften the patina is very very weak - I've lost very nice and possibly valuable coins to this.
Valued Member
Canada
88 Posts
 Posted 02/07/2013  8:35 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Hatter to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Any advice as to what I should do with that last coin?
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jcmworld's Avatar
United States
567 Posts
 Posted 02/07/2013  10:19 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add jcmworld to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Q. "What should I do with that last coin?"

A. Put it in a box marked "culls." I have one, it has lots of yucky culls in there.
Valued Member
Canada
88 Posts
 Posted 02/09/2013  08:43 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Hatter to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Recovering from the biggest snowfall here in 5 years!

A question regarding baking coins to remove water. Is there a standard temperature and time for that?

Thanks again.
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steve123's Avatar
Canada
805 Posts
 Posted 02/09/2013  08:48 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add steve123 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I remember reading something last night. I believe it was 250 for half an hour? I've never done it.
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