Uh oh, I think I'm catching Ancient Fever!

Hi folks. :smile
I've recently developed an interest in ancient coins, and I have a few questions. I won a recent auction for 10 uncleaned Roman coins and paid $15 shipped. Did I get a good deal? I have been slowly cleaning them, using a process of letting them sit in olive oil for 8-12 hours before gently brushing them with a toothbrush, and then soaking them in oil a little bit longer if there is still dirt that can be removed. Is this a good method?
I am looking for either a website or book that has a large database for ancient coin identification. Any recommendations?
The last question is regarding the posted coin. It was one that I cleaned off (it was caked with dirt), and is one of my favorites so far because of the reverse design. I can make out the letters CONSI_ Any info on it?
Thanks,

Simon

 

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In my opinion the best site right now is...

www.wildwinds.com

....and I think what you have there is a Constantinople common bronze commemorative coin.

I am fairly biased against uncleaned lots....so I might be the wrong person to comment on that.
....sometimes the olive oil soak can take quite a bit longer then 8-12 hrs. Think in terms of days, weeks, and even years!

By the way welcome to the club...Ancient coins is a sickness for which there is no cure, and no way to collect them all. If you do want to collect them all, it might take you several hundred years. Ancient coins were minted all over the world from about 600 BC- what ever the cut off is, fall of western Rome 476 AD or the fall of Eastern Rome 1453 AD, or some other arbitrary date before "milled" (machine made) coinage c 1560's.

I would avoid uncleaned lots, 99.9 % have been picked over and you will find nothing of value. Buy what you like my friend, you will be far happier in the long run.

 

Thanks for the info, I'll soak em quite a bit longer and see how it goes.

 

Yes, just soak them longer and hope for the best. Like AN said, the people handling these are professionals, and can "see" under the dirt if a coin is worthwhile or not.

Best bet is to take $15 and find a nice late roman bronze with nice details rather than 10 "uncleaned" coins that really aren't "uncleaned" at all, just low grade.

 

If you're starting to get into ancients, you're lucky to be in San Francisco. The Bay area has one of the best ancient coin clubs in this country. And even better, there's a show next weekend that will only have ancient coins: http://www.sfbourse.com/

 

Although you are most likely correct, when I say these coins had dirt on them, I mean I couldn't see a thing. Not even an outline. But thank you for the comment, I will take that into consideration in the future.

Cool, I'll look into it!

 

Nice move non cents. I did not collect ancients until some of the members at this site opened my eyes. Also, I like the posted coin - especially the reverse. I also stay away from uncleaned coins (for the moment at least). With that said, I think the posted coin makes your $15 investment worth it.

 

Your coin is indeed a Constantinopolis Commemorative, struck under the authority of Constantine I. Here's mine - not the best grade, but I like the attractive color, and I think I paid about $15 for it...

 

I thought Bust Half Fever was bad but boy, this Ancient Fever has hit me pretty hard.

 

Wet that coin down, I nearly guarantee I could tell what type it was, and potential for cleaning. If I can do it, you can be guaranteed the sorters can. Unless a coin comes with hard crusty mineral deposits encasing it, there literally is no way to buy coins the sorters haven't, at many levels, determined its not worth their time to clean.

Just letting you know I have been around these for quite a while, and the "pickings" get worst every year. I stopped buying them completely about 6-7 years ago.

 

Nice! I am really starting to like ancients as well. But I know there's much I need to learn before I start buying them.

 

Here's another one that I just cleaned some crud off of...says something on the reverse, almost looks like it says "SHAOS"?

 

Most likely Valentinian I or Valens. Emperor dragging captive. There is most likely a ChiRo on the banner on the reverse. BTW, its a Delta symbol, not a A, in the mintmark I think.

 

Looked up on wildwinds.com, looks very similar to Aquileia RIC 7a, viiia.

 

Btw, always make sure someone else confirms anything I say regarding Romans Non cents. I don't collect roman coins.

 

I no longer do unclean lots. I never found anything to justify my time nor the money. However, having said that, cleaning these lots can be entertaining and give some idea of what collecting Ancients is all about. I use wildwinds.com, but I also use Helvetica's for LRBs at www.catbikes.ch/coinstuff/coins-ric.htm and I also use www.acsearch.info, dirtyoldcoins.com/Roman-Coins.html, and esty.ancients.info/ricix. Good luck

 

http://www.coinproject.com/ is another good research site.

 

I agree. I forgot that one Mat

 

I'm cleaning a handful of various Arabian coins, but I bought them individually, "as found" in excavations. I need to see that there's potentially enough detail to warrant the fuss of conservation.

 

On a side note...

: how morbid! But of course, those were the days where the public entertainment system consisted of fights to the death...:devil: