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 Replies: 20 / Views: 3,454 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4981 Posts |
well, back last december I picked up a small lot of 10 uncleaned coins just to mess around with. haven't cleaned for a while and kind of missed it so picked up some cheapies just to clean them. here's how the first five came out... before...   and after...   i was disappointed in the top left one, thought it was going to come out nice, but couldn't get the stuff off without remove the patina, so called it quits about a month ago. it a female...but don't know who. the last one I finished was the surprisingly nice valens on the bottom right, I just finished it tonight. I put a bit to much wax on it, you can see it in the pic...I'm a bit out of practice. all in all, so one was s surprisingly good, one disappointingly bad, three about what I thought. i'll call it a draw. i'll post the other 5 as I finish them up, still working on two of them. Edited by chrsmat71
03/16/2014 10:34 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
Very nice! All in all, not too bad. I say that this was more of a victory than a draw.
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Hm...perhaps leave the top left one in oil long term. Put it in the soup. Might get a little more from it - though its probably just Salonina.
You did a good job on the top right. Got some nice coins otu of tht.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2480 Posts |
I've had a handful of Greek and Roman coins soaking in oil for almost a half a year, after initial (disappointing) water soaks and gentle (and occasionally not-so-gentle) cleaning. Doesn't appear to be doing a thing. I've taken them out of the oil a few times for light brushing. Guess I'll let them sit another half year.
I was hot to trot for cleaning when first starting with ancients. Not so much anymore. I can still see the appeal of it though and some people (like Ben) are very skilled in cleaning. Sometimes there just aren't many more details to reveal though. Perhaps MOST of the time...
Edited by ThisIsFun
03/17/2014 08:24 am
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4981 Posts |
..indeed, and sometimes you don't really want to see what's underneath! look at the next two.. before..   after..   one on the right could clean up more, but not worth the effort to me. the coin on the left was disappointing, the dirt was covering up the rough spots of what looked like a real nice coin. still a keeper, its a somewhat rare (r2 for what it's worth) siscia (riv vii 254), don't have one so i'll keep it. Edited by chrsmat71
03/29/2014 11:25 am
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Sometimes it's best not to clean them at all. Sometimes they look better even with the dirt as long as you can make out the details.
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Valued Member
200 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4981 Posts |
very nice baltas! super silvering...what a great payoff for 5 hours of time.
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Valued Member
200 Posts |
Thanks! Yes! :) This was the best in this lot: (middle row, the first from right)  |
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Valued Member
Germany
83 Posts |
Good work !!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4981 Posts |
now that's a nice lookin' uncleaned lot. you can tell that dirt will actually come off, and you can see good details underneath.
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Nice silvering remaining on that coin.
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Valued Member
United States
324 Posts |
It is very interesting to see the transformation. Just wish you guys will give more detail about what you used and how. Thats part of the story. When you silver something exactly what do you use?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4981 Posts |
silvering isn't something you do to a coin, it's something the coin possess. you can see those "flashes" of silver under gunk of the very dirty lot picture on that coin.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4981 Posts |
well, here's the last 3 of the lot of 10 coins I purchased back in december. before..   and after...   the two on the left cleaned up nicely, but are just poor quality coins. for uncleaned lot coins...they're pretty darn good. for LRB in general...not so much. the one on the right is a really rough vrbs roma...i gave up on it. I could clean it up more, but it's just not worth it to me. value or appearance isn't really going to be improved, at least not at the cost of effort..not for me anyway. that one goes in the cull bag. the other two go in pile of coins to sell for dirt cheap in bulk on ebay. Edited by chrsmat71
04/28/2014 9:57 pm
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Replies: 20 / Views: 3,454 |
Posted 03/16/2014 10:32 pm
