Does cleaning harm value of Romans?

The Romulus/Remus reverse is likely a Rome commemorative, struck during the Constantinian era, as such...



VRBS ROMA Commemorative
AE3, 2.1g, 17.6mm, 12h; Siscia mint: AD 334-5
Obv.: VRBS ROMA; helmeted bust of Roma left, wearing imperial mantle.
Rev.: Romulus and Remus suckling from she-wolf, two stars above // dot ΓSIS dot
Reference: RIC VII Siscia 240 (p. 456)

These are some of the most common Romans - they were struck by the millions, and are often found in uncleaned lots.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

We say this all the time but beginners think we are exaggerating. I really wish we had mintage figures for ancient coins so we could show just how many of the things were made. A fraction of them survive due to remelting and rotting in the ground and there are still millions of them out there. That is why nice ones like John's sell for several (not many, just several) dollars and ones you can sort of see there was a wolf on sell for melt value.

 

Do post what you have and all the members here will help you to identify them or to at least offer reference points/sites to further attribute and research the coins...

From past experience, all the suggestions posted about cleaning are the way to go... soaking and a soft/firm wire or nylon brush to remove the loosening 'crud'---but NEVER go further and remove the 'patina' or otherwise go to bare metal.

Perhaps you will 'discover' one or two that we refer to as 'keepers' or perhaps not but it's an educational experience and sometimes a lot of fun with the detective work and also time-consuming and a bit frustrating at having so many extremely poor grade types, let alone blank corroded culls.

Hey, MM, do you really want the culls??? I must have 50-100 of them still lying around some place from decades ago .... Send a stamped envelope and they're all yours!! LOL

 

I have used ultrasonic cleaner with soap and water. also used acetone with excellent results. Does not harm or change color of coin and just removes surface impurities. also a good cleaner is "GOO GONE". All good alternatives to those expensive "Coin Cleaners" on the market. The rule of "thumb" is donot clean coins. Only do so when absolutely needed.

 

How can this be a rule of thumb for Ancients? Most, if not all, are found buried in the dirt. Many have dirt and mineral encrustations. They ALL need cleaning to some degree.

 

Sure! Wait till I get back in the states and I'll send you a PM.

 

The big skill in cleaning is knowing what to do and when to stop with each individual coin and type of dirt. Learning that will cost you some coins. Most of us have trouble knowing when to stop.

 

I'm an idiot - those two dudes are more likely Castor and Pollux (my Art History degree is starting to come in handy...) Pictures soon!

 

Castor and Pollux were twin brothers, together known as the Dioskouri. It is more likely the coin you described has Romulus and Remus, the twin brothers and main characters associated with Rome's foundation myth.

 

Here they are in all of their glory!

The first pic has "some" details, while the second pic are the ones with no details yet. One of them has a head that almost looks Greek, but it's too crusty to tell yet.

I took some closeups on the ones with the best detail, including the Castor/Romulus whatever
There is also one with what looks like a Christian cross on the back, which obviously dates it to after Constantine I.

 

Very interesting lot.
Keep us posted on your progress.
The coin with the cross on it is very interesting.
Can you post the obverse.
Here are the candidates for it.
http://www.tesorillo.com/aes/011/011i.htm

 

They all appear to be Late Roman Bronzes (LRBs). The coin with the cross may be Theodosius II, but I would have to see the other side of the coin to be sure.

 

Most of what I see will fall in the last half of the fourth century and should be identifiable using Warren's site:
http://esty.ancients.info/ricix/
IF there is any detail. These are exactly what I expect from uncleaned coins. You may enjoy the cleaning and ID process but when done you will not have any coins worth what you paid. The cross could be a collectible coin depending on the other side. Will it have legend or a nice face? We wait to see.

 

The cross looks like the one marked KAR on that link.

The face? Hard to tell. That side of the coin is not in great condition. It's such a small coin it's hard to get a good pic.

 

The tiny AE4 cross types were minted by Theodosius II and Valentinian III. They are rarely as sharp as the example on Warren's page. If any of the lettering on the obverse can be discerned after cleaning, you may be able to determine the issuing emperor. They are typically struck weakly and off-center...

 

It could also be the CONCORDIA AVG(GG) type, issued by Arcadius, Honorius, and Theodosius II. I can't see in your pic whether the cross is surrounded by a wreath or inscription.

 

Looks like a wreath but it's hard to tell!

 

Romans (citizens of the modern city) might not take kindly to your attempts to clean them

Roman coins on the other hand, well, as long as its done properly the value will generally go up.

 

I believe the coin on which you thought you saw Romulus and Remus is one of the two-emperors types issued by Arcadius, Honorius, and Theodosius II. I have one of these from Theodosius II. Again, these are pretty roughly-engraved and poorly executed. The state of minting (when it came to bronze anyway) declined considerably from the Valentinian to the Theodosian dynasties. As scrappy as this coin looks, it's one the better examples that I've come across.



I have trouble discerning the mint on this coin as only the tops of the letters in exergue are present. If anyone has any ideas, I'm all ears.

 

Yup, that's the one. The guys on the back look nearly identical. I'll give my coins another soak and see if I can't brush some details into it. I'm pretty I have whatever it is that you have as well