Cleaning and Toning of Ancient Coins; Opinions and Controversy Expected

Here's an common antoninianus of Gordian III from a mixed lot I purchased in 2013:



I didn't care for its looks and thought it could use some cleaning. I soaked it briefly in lemon juice. That worked, although it was fairly white and a bit dull...



I tucked it away in an environment likely to cause accelerated toning. Here it is today:



For discussion:

1. Should it have been left as found in the mixed lot?
2. Should it have been stored in a protected environment after lemon juice cleaning, preventing accelerated toning?
3. How do you feel about purposefully putting a coin in a Wayte Raymond album specifically for the purpose of creating toning?
4. How do you feel about putting the coin in a Wayte Raymond album sandwiched in leather (known to be tanned with sulfur-containing compounds) and left on a sunny window sill to further accelerate the toning? [this is how I stored this Gordian III]
5. Do you feel that I have ruined the coin? (note that lemon juice or something similar will return the coin to a relatively untoned state)

I do like colorful toning and preferentially purchase such coins. After storing several untoned coins in a toning-accelerated environment and seeing the results, I now believe that many toned coins on the market have similarly accelerated toning.

6. Do you find colorfully toned coins appealing? Other factors being equal, are you more likely to buy a toned coin than a cleaned/white coin?
7. If so, do you care if the toning occurred within the last few months or whether it took decades or centuries?
8. If you oppose accelerated toning, how would you feel about a coin owned by an old collector who habitually stored his/her coins in similar tone-inducing albums, without the intention of creating toning?

Note that in my particular environment, simply leaving a coin open to air will lead to similar toning although it might take a year or more. If you are opposed to purposeful accelerated toning, such as storing coins in a Wayte Raymond album, how would you feel about a carelessly stored coin which toned due to ambient environmental factors?

Personally, I don't care how long it took for a given coin to achieve its toning. Also, while I do like colorful toning, I realize that it is possible and even likely that the appearance may change over the years.

Alrighty... lay it on me

 

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More probably an antoninianus than a denarius though....

Now I read the writeup and come back to you

Q

 

I have failed to read about the distinction and timeframe of denarius vs antoninianus but I do see these listed both ways.

 

1. Should it have been left as found in the mixed lot?

Definitely not, I wouldn't even consider looking at it on a tray

2-8 questions

I'm not especially a rainbow toning fan, which may be appreciated on modern coins, but looks very artificial on ancients, even though it may be natural. That said, having a coin toned naturally either on a window sill or accelarated in a tone inducting album, I don't really see the difference.
What I like more is the so called "old cabinet toning" and it's grey tarnished color

Something like that...



Q

 

The radiate crown says the antoninianus, while the laureate is for denarius

Q

 

Thanks. I will edit the post and my files.

 

You're very welcome TIF

 

One of the reasons I enjoy ancients so much is due to the somewhat more relaxed stance on cleaning. Your experiment proves that. Personally I don't care if a coin has been cleaned as long as it isn't blatantly obvious or distracting. I think the end result of your coin looks AWESOME.

 

Here's a very colorful coin I recently purchased (Selinos litra):



The iridescent toning was seen in the auction photos and I have done nothing to increase the toning. I do wonder exactly when the coin developed this look. It's from the Money Museum. Was it toned like this when they acquired it? Did it develop while sitting in their cabinet? Decades earlier? Centuries earlier? I also wonder if the toning will change over time. I have this one sealed up in a tiny rigid plastic coin container to help prevent exposure to my sulfurous salty air.

I've not monkeyed with the toning of coins on my website. Should I consider it for recently cleaned or untoned coins? I certainly wouldn't dare risk my Agathokles tetradrachm but it was fun experimenting with this lowly Gordian III.

 

1. Should it have been left as found in the mixed lot?
From the photo, I would have done the lemon juice too. Ive done it before.

2. Should it have been stored in a protected environment after lemon juice cleaning, preventing accelerated toning?
I would have done so and have, yes.

I dont feel you ruined the coin but I dont think the toning is super attractive, maybe its the photo. The obverse looks better then the reverse tone wise. It looks unnatural.

I like toned coins but actually prefer dark/black toned piece. Some dealers call it "hoard patina. I also like "circulated cameo" with difference contrasts to the greys & will pay a bit more for it too. Usually if it's ebay though.

I cant say I am a fan of purposely accelerating toning. If I buy a coin that has had it, oh well, but if not, then I wont do it myself.

 

You have not ruined the coin. You have improved its appearance and attractiveness. I think this is acceptable for lower grade, common pieces like the OP coin.
"...do you care if the toning occurred within the last few months or whether it took decades or centuries?"
I would answer this question with a question: How can anyone tell when and how toning occurred, or whether it is natural or artificial?

 

Exactly. Unless you have photos of the same coin from different times, who knows when it took on its current appearance.

And it is possible to argue that all toning is "natural" (unless painted on) but that some is simply accelerated.

 

I've always assumed that a good portion of toned silver coins out there that have been cleaned have then been put through some form of accelerated toning. Bar processes that damage the coin, for me the result matters more than whether it toned over decades in an old collector's cabinet or over days in a TIF experiment involving eggs and iguanas.

If you can get past the idea of 'natural' toning (what exactly would qualify, anyway?), then how your coin looks just becomes an aesthetic choice. From the photographs, I would have been most keen to buy the post-juice pre-voodoo Gordian III.

I like some coloured toning (and love your Selinos litra), but I can't say I find the rainbow Gordian attractive. Generally, I prefer it when the toning is a little more subtle, for example on this coin below.

 

I agree; I should have checked on this Gordian III long before. It is too garish. Perhaps I'll apply lemon juice and try again

 

I've read (sorry, can't remember exactly where) that liver of sulfur can be used to quickly retone and/or give rainbow toning to cleaned silver. I've also read that 'experts' can tell if this has been done to a coin.

 

I think the high sulfur content of the album and leather effectively accomplished the same thing as LOS in this case.

 

One of the reasons I bought this below was for the toning. Its toned a bit more since ive had it for about 3 years now.



But the types I really liked is like my nerva below:


Also my Volusian, which is way darker in hand:

 

Looking forward to seeing more experiment results then! You couldn't have picked a better coin than a Gordian III ant to be your lab rat .

 

It was a bit stressful even though it was just a common coin. I'll probably stick to patination of jewelry items.

 

Hi coin girlfriend

Interesting topic, i would leave it like the 2e picture,
Cheers,

Eric