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 Replies: 16 / Views: 3,141 |
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New Member
7 Posts |
So, I recently got a bunch of really cheap uncleaned roman coins off ebay. This is my first experience dealing with roman coins, so I didn't really know what I was doing when I went to clean them. I believe I may have ruined most of them. I read on some site for cleaning coins to use olive oil and lemon juice so I put most of them in a solution of that and this is how they turned out (the graphics are quite large so I have included links rather than posting the pics in here): *** Edited by Staff - Nasty ads at those links. ***A relatively small number of the coins are still actually very crusty even after the soaking. I'm not sure what to do with them to the the encrustations off. I'm wondering if any of these coins are even worth trying to salvage. The ones I didn't put into the olive oil and lemon juice and just used water on actually came out pretty good. Makes me want to cry when I realize I ruined about 3/4 of the coins I got. Additionally there was a few oddities in the lot. Initially I got excited when I found this next coin as I thought I had found a silver coin, but I'm not sure what it is anymore. I even an Ein Kreuzer in with the coins so not everything is even Roman. It's possible just some metal slug of some sort. It's almost featureless except for one spot on each side that has some markings. The markings are on the same spot on the coin on their respective sides. I have some more I want to post up, but I haven't taken pictures of them yet, so I'll add them later. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
905 Posts |
Those coins are mostly slugs, I wouldn't even waste my time with them. If you want uncleaned coins, you will have to pay more for better quality. The ones you posted have been sorted and looked through, probably by many people along the way, before they got to you.
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New Member
 7 Posts |
Well that's odd the other picture I tried to post didn't actually post. Let's try again.
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New Member
7 Posts |
Thanks for your reply, Victor. So do you think they were pretty much already like that before I put them in the solution that I had thought ruined them? Or did I most likely still make them worse?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
905 Posts |
There was not much you could have done to make them worse. For the future though, don't use lemon juice on bronze coins.
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
 to the community Not much more to add to what Victor already said. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
513 Posts |
Are they worth trying to salvage? Almost definitely not, from an effort/reward (in coins) perspective. But I would argue that at least the ones that show some detail are worth trying to clean just so you can learn about cleaning coins on some that it wouldn't be the end of the world if you ruined them. Try all the methods you've heard about and want to try out. Try olive oil on a couple, DW on a couple, heck try lemon juice (look up how you can do it before trying) on a couple. Then take the razor blade and needle out and get to work.
It'll be a good learning experience for if you decide to keep cleaning coins, both for the methods and so that you understand the time you're looking at putting in.
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New Member
7 Posts |
Well as frustrating as it was to find out that the majority of the coins I bought were culls/slugs, a few of them seem to have turned out alright. This is probably the best of them, honestly.
And in case that pic doesn't end up working (The last couple I've tried to post didn't show up), here's a link:
*** Edited by Staff - Nasty ads at those links. ***
Edited by Saabre
09/29/2014 02:26 am
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New Member
7 Posts |
Does anyone know why the IMG code for posting pics wouldn't be working for me? In three separate posts now, I've tried to post pics and initially they show up, but when I come back later to look, they no longer work.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
I dont use the IMG coding but maybe one of the mods could help you. I find it easier to just use the software and resize the image and upload normally.
My advice for a new collector is simple. Buy from respected and reputable collectors and dealers and buy the best of the type you want and can afford and you will always be happy.
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Pillar of the Community
3772 Posts |
Most what needs to be said has been said by 'chuy1530' and 'Ancientnoob'. but I would like to give a slightly different take from what 'Ancientnoob' said. Yes, buy from people/shops who are reputable (problem might be to find out) but being new you might not yet know what specific coin/type you want. So buy some as cheaply as possible where you can recognise a good deal of detail. Maybe you find a coin dealer with a 'scratch box' containing roman coins, that was the way I got into roman coins some time ago. Once you learnt a bit about roman coins you might add 'Ancientnoob's approach as well as saving up for the odd special one you really want. Btw, imo some of the most interesting roman coins are the denari of the republican time many of which are not very expensive in a decent quality (VG or better) and the majority can be linked to a specific year due to good records from that time. One thing I would strongly recommend: get yourself a book on roman coinage, a second hand copy of Sear's Roman Coins 3rd or 4th edition would do just fine ( Amazon has them for less that US$10) - not to be confused with the millenium edition, which is way more expensive and not complete yet. |
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
If you use the update image feature provided here you should be able to post your images without any problems.
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New Member
7 Posts |
Now it seems my off-site links to my pics were deleted, supposedly bec of "nasty ads", despite there being NO ads on the pages my links were connected to.
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Forum Dad
United States
24164 Posts |
Quote:
despite there being NO ads on the pages my links were connected to. I just clicked every one and there were NO images of yours at all and three out of the fours ads at the top of the page were NASTY. They were the ONLY things on the page. |
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New Member
7 Posts |
Whatever.
Well I guess since I can't post pics in the thread and I'm evidently not allowed to post links to my pics off-site, I'll go find another forum that actually works.
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Forum Dad
United States
24164 Posts |
This forum works just fine for thousands and thousands of other members. But let me help you get started finding another forum.
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Replies: 16 / Views: 3,141 |
Posted 09/27/2014 9:13 pm
