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 Replies: 16 / Views: 2,268 |
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Valued Member
384 Posts |
Given that some of us do not know what treasures we have until we have made efforts to clean (usually scrap bronze) lumps which arrive through our doors, does this forum have a cleaning section where photos can be taken in stages as a coin or coins are cleaned of dirt and the treasure revealed?
I ask this because I have just been sent in the post today a fused lump of Trachy cup coins (about 7 I think?) and wanted to show photos in stages .......
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Pillar of the Community
United States
582 Posts |
No, just make a post... I'm sure most would be interested in seeing your progress.
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Valued Member
 384 Posts |
Shame there isn't a separate section for this as I am not as optimistic as you as to how interested people will be ....  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
No seperate section but we'd want to see it...when I was focusing on cleaning I posted seperate topics for updates. Not huge amounts of interest, but I want to see the progress.
I might post some cleaning stuff - I'm about to abandon the distilled water and put some into long term oil soaks. I've had 2 which I've given up on cleaning (started to get negative effects) so if you're good at cleaning you might want to have a whack.
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Valued Member
384 Posts |
There are some extreme methods which work on stubborn ones Ben, such as Ammonia and formic acid, but I use a fume cupboard for this and avoid it where I can as its all really BAD stuff. Sometimes as I am sure you will know its better to stop and leave it as it cannot get any better ( you cannot make a silk purse out of a pigs ear!) I am posting pics of the Greek uncleaned and the fused lump of Trachy cup coins later and will make a start on them. I do not want to annoy people by putting too many posts on about cleaning when alot of members are not so interested perhaps and thats why I asked about a separate thread where people can choose to go to see us scientists in action!! I wanted to start a thread for each coin, so it could be followed through from start to finish? but again this may annoy some people and because I cannot share some of the methods it looks a little 'show offy na na na na na' if that makes sense?
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
739 Posts |
I would be interested - maybe we could ask a mod to start a topic in the General Area ? there is one for Photography
I have sent a note to staff
Edited by rooneydog
11/09/2013 09:49 am
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Valued Member
384 Posts |
Yeh good idea, we could then just restrict the main ancient forum to a quick post of 1 before and after photo and a reference back to the thread in a separate section!! Its such a big area now and so many people try to find their own treasures that it would IMO warrant a section, but Its not my site and its already very cramped on the home page. I'll send a request too....
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2254 Posts |
Hello all. I will allow others more familiar with ancients to weigh in on this subject in general. However, I can almost promise you that CCF will not have a dedicated "cleaning" section. The reason for this is that with the exception of possibly the ancient area, and even then not very favorable, cleaning is pretty much a "no no" in numismatics. While there are some products that will remove dirt and grime from coins without damaging them too much, it is a risky business and as such, it's not something that we promote as a whole.
Also, take into consideration the folks that are not experienced with coins to begin with. They find an old coin that has some dirt on it and decide to do an internet search for cleaning coins. One of those results points to the ancient section here. Will they realize that the methods described are for ancient coins? Will they potentially use dangerous chemicals on a rare coin that will ruin its value and potentially harm themselves?
Bottom line, I could go on and on about the possible hazards, but you get my point. Discussing cleaning practices here and there is sometimes acceptable, but let it be known that we take every "cleaning solution" seriously here and we will not allow folks to post unsafe(for coins or humans) cleaning practices. We also do not promote cleaning up coins for future deception on sales.
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Valued Member
384 Posts |
I think you are right, products for cleaning can be dangerous and without much experience ( I have this experience ) can be very tricky and hazardous. But most people clean carefully with small tools (wooden) mostly, and use distilled water soaks to turn what would otherwise be a concreted lump of unidentifiable nothing into something CCf members would love to have in their collections.. Without cleaning, these lumps would never make it into collectors hands.
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
I think you are right, products for cleaning can be dangerous and without much experience ( I have this experience ) can be very tricky and hazardous. But most people clean carefully with small tools (wooden) mostly, and use distilled water soaks to turn what would otherwise be a concreted lump of unidentifiable nothing into something CCf members would love to have in their collections.. Without cleaning, these lumps would never make it into collectors hands. I'm well aware of the differing rules - necessities - regarding the restoration of Ancients, but these practices have very little place in the disposition of newer coins. For that reason, I have to agree with tights24. By all means, discuss appropriate and popularly-acceptable cleaning solutions for Ancients, but please keep it here in the Ancients forum. And you can expect to be held to discussion of methods considered numismatically appropriate, the same way we police any discussions of conservation methods in other forums. |
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Valued Member
384 Posts |
I think I may just restrict my posts in future to before and after photos as I do not wish to upset anyone on this forum.....there is no place for cleaning coins other than ancients in my view and any coin which is attractive and attributable should be left well alone.
Any coins which I have sold or will sell in future have not been subjected to any process which harms or introduces a patina to them. Just the removal of encrustations which make attributing the coins impossible.
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
I agree with tights24 and SsuperDdave a separate section would not be warranted . Ancient coins all have been cleaned at some point after they were removed from the ground otherwise there would just be lumps of dirt. Therefore they are the only type of coin where cleaning is an accepted practice. In the past there were only one or two collectors that cleaned coins. I was one of those but, haven't done so now for a few years since the price of un-cleaned coins has doubled and tripled. Lately new members such as yourself an one or two others from the UK have been posting metal detecting finds that they have cleaned. Because of all the different methods that are used to clean ancients I think to just have a signal thread might confuse others that are just starting out. In the past a thread was started for each cleaning project. I think for the time being we should just leave it at that. If more people start cleaning maybe a sticky thread could be started.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
Not a whole section but a sticky with info and links would probably work imo.
Edit: just saw echizento already suggested it. But it's defintiely a +1 from me for that idea.
Edited by VisigothKing
11/09/2013 2:54 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1569 Posts |
I agree with echizento, would be neat to have a sticky or a section I could go to when needing to clean a particular type of 'dirt'. Imo I don't think a thread would hurt as long as it was made 100 percent clear the coinage we are talking about cleaning, after all we would all be traumatised if someone polished a nice George III 1819 Sovereign because it looked a bit grubby  You will never soar like an eagle if you hang around with turkeys.....
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4981 Posts |
hmmm...a sticky thread isn't a bad idea really. of course, we can just have a coin cleaning thread in general, if it's popular enough...it will kind of "stick" itself.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
I am always interested in methods of cleaning, and I love before and after photos. I have never used olive oil, only distilled water. I tried ammonia on a silver coin, and lemon juice but it had little effect.
But if anyone can tell me how get rid of the light brown mud I would be very grateful. You know the sort, you can pick it off, but when you brush the coin it just spreads right back over the bit you just cleaned. Just can't seem to get rid of it.
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Replies: 16 / Views: 2,268 |
Posted 11/09/2013 08:25 am
