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 Replies: 14 / Views: 1,155 |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Its been a long time since I've been able to get a lot for 'cheap'. Well, actually, this wasnt cheap. £27.32! Thats $41.50. Urgh. Well, still, it works out to 55p per coin (85c). Its near enough to the 50p per value I wanted to stick to. I put down some extra dough on it because they are all minims. That 5p at the top is about 17-18mm, if my memory serves me right. Cant wait to get them - I already see some coins I'm very interested in. The description says Yorkshire.  LPBR9kpNqF5w~~60_12.jpg) g~~60_12.jpg) I hope I get some interesting coins. Carausius II, here I come. |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
They look nice. The prices on the bay have gone through the roof recently and the last lot I got were awful.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4971 Posts |
yeah, I've kind of given up on uncleaned lots...but now I miss cleaning them, even if economically it isn't the best way to go..so i'll probably pick one up again in the near future.
those don't look bad ben, I bet you'll get 41 bucks of fun out of those.
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Pillar of the Community
 United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Its getting to the point that you're paying for the activity - theres no money at all in cleaning them. But I'm going to enjoy this lot a lot - barbarous coins are great fun. Id split the lot and spread them out a bit, but I only got 50 (one upon a time I hadmuch better than that for £27)
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Pillar of the Community
Netherlands
1204 Posts |
Good luck cleaning, never done it, what do I need to?
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Well, first off is to get some uncleaned coins (preferably not ones I'm trying for!). This is pretty easy to do if youhave dough and odnt want high volume - you can clean some real top grade coins.
THEN, you follow a cleaning guide. Many have been published onto this forum. Its a very long explanation, I'm afraid. If you are interested, Ill write it out again (or find the last one I wrote). I've settled into my cleaning program - it can take a long time to get it going properly and (for the coin) safely.
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Pillar of the Community
Netherlands
1204 Posts |
Im interested Benby! How long does it approximatly take to clean a standard ancient coin completely? 1 month? Do I need devices for cleaning? I saw ultrasone equipment?
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Well, its highly variable. for some coins, it takes minutes - others, it takes bloody forever. I've got coins in cleaning from my first lots. Its been over 1 year now! Still not clean. I've got a few from christmas still going too. Its all about patience...depatinated, they'd be clean in a day, but thats just a waste of 2000 years of patination.
Devices? Nope! You need a ramikin and a sewing needle. I mounted mine in an Xacto knife handle after a while for ease of use. Fill the ramikin with olive oil - this is eever so slightly acidic and will loosen the dirt with no ill effect to patina (well, patina goes black after a while, this isn't such an issue - it sometimes happens instantly, or not at all - last check on my eudoxia about a month about (i.e. after 11 months in oil) revealed no colour change). Its all about getting your technique - you need to be gentle, but tough where the dirt is tough. Work in little circles and dont harm the patina - every coin is different, you'll learn quickly from a lot of 100 what to do with different coins - UK coins are more fragile, some cannot be picked at at all.
Some people swear by other methods, from brass brushes to cleaning fluids. Some of them are plain wrong (dont use cleaning fluid). I wouldnt use an Ulstrasonic cleaner, personally, but it might work. I've never seen reports of successful cases.
ALSO: as you progress, you'll find other useful tools. Bamboo skewers, toothpicks, Qtips etc. I use Ren Wax to seal UK found coins afterwards and this greatly improves aesthetics.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
Dutch, there is no such thing as a standard coin when it comes to cleaning! Get yourself some really grotty ones to practice on before you go near a decent one with a blade.
I use distilled or demineralised water for soaking (I don't like the idea of olive oil but lots do). Do not go near electrolysis. Thing you need more than anything is patience. It can take from a few days to many months of soaking and brushing. Personally I would not use a dremel either.
There are some really dodgy youtube videos out there, if in doubt ask on the board.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
Gave myself an early Christmas present this week  Finding it much easier than trying to use a loupe. |
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Pillar of the Community
Netherlands
1204 Posts |
thanks for the information, Ill look for a nice cheap lot in the following days!
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Hey, Dutch, a plan springs to mind - I'm going to have a few dirty slugs or undesirable coins soon, with the 50 coin lot coming in soon. I have a few other uncleaned coins in my junks lot, perhaps. If you want some practice coins, PM me.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
I can spare a few as well if you wish.
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Pillar of the Community
Netherlands
1204 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Netherlands
1204 Posts |
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Replies: 14 / Views: 1,155 |
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Posted 08/01/2013 11:13 am
