Uncleaned Roman Coins Bundles, Worth Buying? How To Clean?

Some are worth buying, some are not. Sometimes you can tell by looking at the pics that there is a lot of detail, sometimes you can tell that they are likely to be slugs. The prices are going up all the time, I couldn't tell you what would be a bargain and what would not.

As for cleaning, I always used distilled water. Some prefer to use olive oil, but that darkens the patina. The absolute safest way to start of is distilled water. Soak for a few days, change the water when it becomes cloudy and use an old toothbrush to give them a good brushing. Cut the bristles on the toothbrush to make them stiffer. Soak/brush for as long as it takes to bring out the detail. You can pick with a toothpick to break up the crud on the surface, but patience is the most important thing. It can take weeks or months to get to a result that you are happy with.

You want to retain the patina, you do not want to make it a shiny like new coin.

I now use a scalpel and a stereo microscope to get down to the fine detail, but you should only do this once you have a "feel" for cleaning the coins and dealing with different types of crud.

Use electrolysis if you want to ruin the coin. Main thing is slowly, slowly......

I am sure you will find a good site in due course, and find lots of coins. There is a metal detecting forum on this site. Whereabouts in the UK are you?

A toothbrush will not hurt the coin. Some people use a brass brush, I have tried them and don't like them, they can damage the patina. Some coins will need to be soaked for months, DW will not hurt the coins at all.

There are MD forums in the UK, they will all want to protect their good sites though. Don't forget, if you find anything of value or significance, they should be reported to the portable antiquities scheme:

http://finds.org.uk/

Coins are still being dug up in their millions, you should be OK for a while yet!

I would think the number of ancients to be found has only been scratched ! For thousands of years people were hiding pots of coins to keep them from taxmen angry spouses and foreign invaders. Not all would have been hidden in easy to reach places and just by chance enough owners would have died suddenly or had to refugee themselves far from home never to return. Often changes can occur in the landscape too. Trees to mark the site or other things may vanish. Imagine trying to locate your home if the entire place was burned by invaders and no familiar landmarks existed. I am only speculating but I think you will have enough 'loot' left in the wild areas. The open fields are probably clean. But you never know. Until you try !

Mash, google "metal detecting northants" a number of interesting sites come up. I would recommend joining a local forum, you will get all sorts of information, just by reading their archives. I am not a metal detectorist, although I do fancy having a go, but maybe I would prefer to wait until the weather is warmer!

It might be useful to go to a rally. Even if it is a bit of an egg hunt, you will get the opportunity to meet like minded people and pick up some tips. They are not going to share their best sites with you though!