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 Replies: 16 / Views: 2,133 |
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Moderator
 United States
16677 Posts |
Metal detector find. Has great remaining detail. I have soaked in distilled water to try to remove the surface dirt then patted dry. Here is how it still looks. Any suggestions  Cleaning is obviously out of the question.   swcoin.ecrater.com
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Valued Member
United States
259 Posts |
Looks like a candidate for BadThad's Verdi-Gone to me. (maybe... can't tell if that's verdigris or not)
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Moderator
 United States
16677 Posts |
Quote:
Looks like a candidate for BadThad's Verdi-Gone to me Ya, I've thought about that. I just don't want the substance (dirt,verdigris) whatever it may be to further erode into the coins surface  swcoin.ecrater.com
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Valued Member
United States
250 Posts |
Have you tried acetone yet? Some of that may still be organic.
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Moderator
United States
16677 Posts |
Never used acetone so I don't know what I'm doing. Can you really screw up the coin if done improperly?
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19935 Posts |
Amazing detector find, it looks to be at least an EF coin. Don't be afraid of working on that coin! Really, you don't have much choice, you need to get the crud off of it. I don't really see much verdigris, that looks more like dirt and clay remaining. Take it to the sink with as hot of water as you can stand and rub it between your fingers under running water. I'd even use some dish soap during the rubbing process....only use your fingers, your skin will not scratch the coin. Keep up the rubbing and hot rinse until you get most of the gunk off.
Once you've removed as much as you can, soak it xylene for a few days. After than soak it in acetone for a few hours. Show us some pics after you've done all that, I'd like to see if any verdigris in on the surface.
Great find, congrats!
Edited by BadThad
02/15/2009 12:04 pm
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
If it's just dirt, you could also try freezing-thawing cycles in water; that's a little less invasive than rubbing the coin's surface.
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Moderator
United States
16677 Posts |
Thanks for the info and yes, I will post after pics when I'm done. That's what I was thinking Thad, solid XF. The Wheats lines are fully separated. Little wear on cheek and hair.
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
Also consider a long olive oil soak. It will do wonders to "soften up" the surface contamination. After a week in olive oil, I use a wooden toothpick (very gently) to remove the crud. Re-soak as needed.
Thad had a great idea to use a plastic toothscaler but they're a little harder to come by.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19935 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
16677 Posts |
After distilled water soak, warm dish soap and light rub with fingers, acetone soak, then freeze and thaw, then mineral oil soak, here is the obverse. Big difference. The reverse still has some green organic material remaining:(  Big improvement. What should I do about the organic stuff. Did not come off after all this. It's a really nice coin in hand. Otherwise, I would not care. Thanks. swcoin.ecrater.com
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Make a paste of Baking Soda and warm distilled water. Lightly rub with that and then rinse completely with distilled water, dry and put away. What ever is left is not worth any more efforts and may well start to leave pot marks. Place in a 2x2, seal and forget it.
Of since you already started cleaning, you have little to loose so continue doing as before and hope you still have a coin left.
I'd really stop now if it were mine.
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Moderator
United States
16677 Posts |
It's not a real big $$ item and it is a ground find so I am basically experimenting. Otherwise, cleaning would not be in my vocabulary. I've been collecting for 25 years and have never cleaned anything. I'm just experimenting with ways to get this stuff off without scratching the coins surface or disrupting the original "as found" chocolate color of the cent. Thanks.
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
How long did you have it in mineral oil? If only a week or two, you may want to let it go for a month or two(or longer) to really penetrate and loosen the gunk. Over that kind of time, olive oil could change the patina due to mild acidity and it could also go rancid  Mineral oil is frequently used on crusty ancients. Edited by biokemist6
03/05/2009 9:44 pm
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Moderator
United States
16677 Posts |
Only 5 days! Back in it goes. Thanks biokemist6.
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19935 Posts |
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Replies: 16 / Views: 2,133 |
Posted 02/15/2009 10:32 am
