For all you cleaners of coins: In the near future I plan to purchase some uncleaned ancients to mess around with. I’ve never bought uncleaned coins before. I only have one nice ancient—a silver Marcus Aurelius denarius that’s in very nice shape. A couple of years ago I bought four Roman bronzes, already cleaned, that were in poor shape; only one could be identified. Two others could be guessed at, and one was a slug. But I really enjoyed researching and puzzling over them. And that’s why I’m going to buy a few uncleaned coins. The detective work is what I like best. There have been a few dealers discussed in other threads here that I will try for reasonably good quality uncleaneds at reasonable prices, and I think I’ll love every second of it (except waiting for the coins to soak in water or olive oil. That sounds excruciating. I’m glad I have more than one hobby to keep my mind off of it.) Some articles I’ve read on collecting ancient coins warn people, especially beginners, away from buying uncleaned ancients. These authors recommend spending one’s money on decent-quality, attributed coins where you know exactly what you are getting. And all this brings me to my questions. Why do you buy and clean dirty old ancient coins instead of nice, clean, attributed ones? What are your feelings as you work on them? Are there goals you are working towards with ancients, and do the uncleaneds factor into it?
Same as you say...I enjoy researching and trying to figure out what it is if its real rough..I enjoy the REAL crusty coins because I enjoy being the first person to see the face of the coin in 1500+ years. I also like the rare suprise when you find a little gem, either more rare...or just in great condition or an obv or rev I wasnt expecting to find. I once found a Probus, Aurelian, and Caudius II in decent shape in an uncleaned lot...that was real cool...Just buy your uncleaned from a good seller...there are different levels of sellers and a few who when they say premium...they mean it more than others. Go for the most crusty...that way the seller is less able to cull and you get more of a chnage of finding something good.
Oh, and another question pertaining to collecting ancients: In the past year I've learned more about ancient Rome (and the ancient Middle East and Europe in general) than in any other time of my life, mainly because I've been skimming through discussions of ancient coins, reading a few articles, and looking at information about emperors on Wikipedia and a few other sites. I'm by no means well-educated about ancient Greece and Rome, but I'm learning. Coins have been the main impetus behind this. For collectors of ancient coins, how did you get into this? Did you already have a pretty good background in history (or perhaps the Latin or Greek languages) when you got into numismatics, or did numismatics provoke you to delve into history, or did the two go hand in hand? I was only mildly interested before, but--like with everything--the more I learn, the more I want to learn. I'm finding coins a great springboard for that.
Classics minor along with my B.A.'s. I was already collecting, but the minor spurred my interest in ancients. If you're already learning Latin, might as well apply it...
In response to the original question, I just plain enjoy cleaning them! I originally (for about 5 minutes) thought that I could make money off of them. Then I woke up, lol. Now I just clean for pure enjoyment. I got interested because I've always loved coins and history. Surprisingly, my increased interest in ancient coins coincided exactly with my Roman Civilization class. (This was actually a complete coincidence).
As Drusus says it in part is the joy of uncovering something that has been hidden from view for a long long time Add to that for myself there is a love of history
A very good question! I collect mainly U.S. type coins. 99% of my collection is U.S. However, on rare occasion I have bought a lot of uncleaned ancients. Did it off of ebay and most are slugs but cheap slugs if you have a little "mad money" burning a hole in your pocket. A few turned out rather well though. One was minted in Constantinople I believe and depicts Remus and Romulus suckling at the wolf. SO HOW COOL IS THAT to a guy like me? It's been buried for centuries and I found out what was underneath all of the crud. I actually haven't done this in a few years (more like 5). At first the wait did bother me but as I did it a few times it got easier. Makes you appreciate that patience is a virtue I guess. Not my cup of tea but I still like an occasional nip!
I tried cleaning a lot of 10 coins. I guess it really matters how and where you get them. What I got was 9 flat pieces of metal, and one barely indentifiable Antoninus Pius. If I could find better lots, I would try it again, because I like the idea of the "treasure hunt". Finding a really nice coin for my collection. I got 15 ancients, so far. Mainly A. Pius, and the family tree down to Commodus. Toss in Alex. the great (lifetime issue), Ptolemy I, and some later Roman, and that should cover it. I do love the ancients.
If you got ONE Antoninus Pius out of an uncleaned lot, that was worth it! Lol. Most of the stuff is small late roman and from eastern mints.
Ard, Trust me it was not worth it, as I could barely recognize what I had cleaned. It certainly wasn't like this one I bought...
Well, at least its a step up from the usual Fel Temp. Best things I ever got in an uncleaned lot were from my very first one, bought off ebay. I got three coins, the first has great centering/details/color, but its a common coin. The second is a tiny little thing that took me forever to ID, but is an unlisted variety. And the third is a little bit crappy, but about average for my other lots. Lol. By the way, I like that portrait! But the REAL deals are in unattributed, but cleaned, coins. I prefer to go to ebay UK for these, as theres a good chance to find coins from metal detectorists. Along with others, got this one that way, for 13 bucks. http://s35.photobucket.com/albums/d169/Ardatirion/?action=view¤t=Antoninusobv.jpg http://s35.photobucket.com/albums/d169/Ardatirion/?action=view¤t=Antoninusrev.jpg
That's still a nice coin you've got there. Mine didn't cost me all that much...maybe $30.00, if that. I'd have to check me receipts.
can anyone help me here? I have bought a heap of uncleaned roman coins and a guide says to use dish water? washing up liquid, and now someone says to me that its a bad idea to use dish washer liquid??? what do I do?
I've never had a few drops of dish soap hurt a coin. Sometimes something more acidic, like olive oil, is needed. Depends on how crusty they are. The important thing to remember is use the gentlest methods first. Sometimes you can clean them with just a dry brushing. Remember that they're old and often fragile. Don't scrub/clean them so hard you remove the patina from the coin. I'm not up on the latest techniques as I haven't cleaned coins in years, it's just not for me, but here are a couple good Yahoo Groups for you... http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UncleanedAncientCoins/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Uncleanedcoins/ Here's a good starter page for ancients with lots of good links... http://rg.ancients.info/guide/ancients.html .
I guess cleaning ancients for me is kinda like building a puzzle. I enjoy finding nice ones, but dont expect too. I got into ancients becauase, I like history, collected coins already, for fun bought a coin of constantine, and a friend turnd me onto cleaning ancients. I think though, that the thing that tipped the scales for me was hbo's Rome.
