Hello again everyone, a bit back I started getting into more ancient coins. I ended up doing some research for the last few months and decided to just try my hand at restoring some that I purchased as a lot, I spent $60 for 50 coins, figure I would have spent that much on fast-food one month so not a big loss. I know I am not a expert and am a long way from it but I wanted to share some of the progress I have made. These are on the last leg for me, fine detailing, which will take me a while, as I try to avoid damaging them in any way or ripping off patina. One pic is of how they arrived covered and funked up severely. Couple are from one coin as I progressed through the process and the last grouping are the ones I need to detail. I used a combination of tools from bamboo toothpicks, dental equipment, and customized flat nose needles. So that I stop rambling from nerves, here they are, hope you guys enjoy!!!
I know nothing about restorations either. My first action would be to stick about a dozen into a jar of Vaseline for a month. Vaseline will eventually dissolve many kinds of crud, and some kinds of corrosion, but it's a very slow process. I'm guessing the reaction would proceed a good deal like acetone, except that Vaseline's substantially less volatile, and much cheaper.
I thought about using Vaseline at first but after some more reading and looking at the methods, I am waaaaaay too inexperienced for that method. I was afraid of the Vas getting stuck in between crevasses or cracks in the coin and then I would not be able to clear it out properly. Instead I opted to try a distilled heating method, using distilled water, as to avoid having any unknown chems affecting the metals, then doing small dips to break apart some of the gunk. Though now that I am getting a littler further into it, I may just pick out a sacrificial coin to test this method out on, if things go bad I won't feel it as much hahaha.
That's quite a group for $60, and it looks like they are coming along just fine. That's pretty cheap per coin. You certainly have made that up in the coins you showed. Congrats.
Some of those a pretty darn nice for uncleaned lot coins...and looking good as well. I used to use distilled water as well ( I have a few still soaking in my garage). How are you picking at the dirt? Toothbrush?
Surprise! Acetone will dissolve and remove Vaseline completely, and you can make napalm out of the residue. That's why Vaseline is the "first" action.
I am def going to try and see how this method works out. Do you know a rough time est for a coin? I ended up using some make-up brushes my wife had laying around, new ones of course, did not want to start layering coins in stuff lol. Slow arduous process with these, but there were a few that worked out really well for me, generally the smaller more condensed brushes and it kept me from grinding away at a coin with a toothbrush, thats just me though, I did not have a soft hand with the toothbrush as others did or do >.<
