An ancient newbie buys an uncleaned batch

Back in the good old days...mumble, mumble, mumble... : - )

 

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I'm really new at ancients and don't know if I will have a long and abiding interest (ask me in another 20-30 years) and I have many US and foreign coins, many in MS condition that I generally don't touch with anything other than my eyes. However, ancients and especially uncleaned ancients have suffered through so much, not much I can do is going to hurt them too much (with exceptions...please don't go all postal on me here). That being said, I suggest starting off with gentle treatment (brushing and water soaking) and progressing, if you want to more extreme measures. I just tied the motor oil recently, diluted with hexane to give it more cutting power, and was amazed at what came off of the coins. The wax I am holding on, but can't see how it would hurt the coins to give them a thin coating of mineral oil. JMHO.

 

I think most of us will agree with most of what you wrote...

The key is to 'gently' clean them WITHOUT removing the patina---just the dirt and 'crud' And just like moderns, you do not want to alter the metal surface itself. The patina is a natural protection accumulated over so many centuries and is part of the coins eye-appeal.

I soak and even boil the coins and then rub with a coarse rag or use a soft brush and repeat the process for as long as it may need to take. I haven't yet applied wax, but I may try that too if the coins seem to be at least a fine to VF grade. Of course, most uncleaned coins will turn out to be 'poor grade' and not worth keeping as a collectible, especially since so many LRB's (Late Roman Bronzes) are readily available in high grade (VF-EF) for as little as $20-$50.00 shipped----with all the details you'd love to see.

Always check RIC to attribute those you may have some identification for and perhaps one or two may be a bit of a scarcity/rarity in acceptable condition.

 

Yep, mostly agree. My thinking, on patina, is that it can add to appeal for some people, but it is in no case universal. If I remove patina along with some "stuff", just give it a couple of hundred years : - ) I have one now that had some concrete appearing stuff on it that would NOT be removed. Shh...don't tell anyone, but I used hydrochloric acid. Need to post some photos sometime.

 

I thought I'd get around to snapping them all as is. There are others in a 'severely crudded' water bath. They may take some time!



Some a little more uncrudded the others. Some just slugs.

 

Edit

 

To each his own,I suppose. But, I've 'harshly' cleaned a few years ago and have always regretted it.

Seems like you're doing about average or a bit above, since several look like they may be keepers.

I have a couple of weeks to go before I receive my 'lot' and if I judged it correctly, I may have 3-5 coins in about fine to very fine. I'll let you all know once I do.

 

Yah, a few look like keepers, but there isn't really even one "real" keeper in that mix, eh?

oh, but I totally applaud your coin-effort, tulipone (awesome .. yup, you definitely have bragging-rights on me, because I have never cleaned an ancient coin)

=> super good effort

I'm a total fan of letting the front-line guys find the coins and then I'll buy their find-coins, or their well-cleaned coins (hey, I don't even do my own oil-changes ... why would I clean my own coins?!!)



... hopefully my post is being received in a friendly and "you rock" kind of way ... good job, great effort!!

 

@stevex6 - you always seem worried about causing offence! Chill! I'm pleased that anyone wants to take part in this thread.

None will be worth buying, some will be worth me keeping. Totally understand what you are saying. A good education is rarely free but this was a reasonably cheap thing to do. Doubt I'll do it again though.

 

Why does it strike me that trying to clean 99% of the uncleaned coins I have seen is a lot like trying to turn a elongated penny back into a round coin in search of a 1955 double die. If you enjoy the process, fine. Otherwise either buy the 1% of coins with a chance or just buy cleaned coins to start with.

 

I get what you are saying but think that with any hobby you encompass a process or you don't. I like to collect silver bullion coins but have no desire to make my own. I know that you know about cleaning ancients with a knowledge built up over time. My learning curve needs to far more condensed than yours as I came to coins relatively recently.

Cleaning a batch taught me a bundle and certainly added perspective. Not something I need to continue with and now starting to look for 1%.

 

I wish for your sake that the coins had more detail, but I admire your persistence and patience in cleaning them gently and correctly. You will find the skills you've gained useful when you come across pieces with exceptional detail that need a bit of conservation.

 

=> ahaha man, if you only knew ...

cheers => and I hope that you're having a great holiday season

 

I apologize for those who know my opinion but: Cleaning coins and collecting coins are two different pursuits. What you learn cleaning and what you learn studying coins with detail are completely different. I know I am in the minority on such things. A few people do both hobbies but more try cleaning and decide ancients are not worth collecting.

 

Doug, maybe it's because of our age, but I am in 100% agreement. Cleaning the slugs I did was not worth my time and I learned I have no patience for it.

 

Not wanting to appear defensive and I'm enjoying the debate. I wasn't into ancients at the beginning of the process but now I understand something of their process I am far more interested.

I am comfortable enough to buy what I may, but without focus would I enjoy doing just that?

I live in Huntingdon, UK, birth place of Oliver Cromwell and like to collect Commonwealth coins of his era.

I like to collect 6d coins - I'm not entirely sure why, but they have relevance with my childhood and I have a strong attraction to collect them from Elizabeth I through to 1970.

I have no link with ancients other than that folk find them. I never have. Without a focus the breadth is too wide and I'd rather know more about a smaller focus than just have trophies. I now have a group of coins that I can research and learn something about. Their relevance is that I cleaned them.

Obviously I'd have preferred that they all would have turned out to be gold and in perfect condition but even at the outset I knew that was unlikely. I wanted to learn and document my process and for just a few quid I did just that.

All good in my eyes. No downside at all.

 

Just out of curiosity, have you ever attempted to "clean" any of the coins you have bought in an effort to improve their appearance?

 

no

 

You need to stay in more.

 

yah, I've posted this photo before, but it's the truth ...

=> pretty sure that if I started cleaning my coins there'd be a wee bit o' smoothing and toolin' so I am staying away from my sweet babies ...

... and to be totally honest => I "love" a bit of nasty find-patina on my coins!!

Hey, I'm not buying AJ-esque coins, so a bit of "truth" makes me feel good inside when I look at my awesome examples (a few dimples, or a bit o' grunge makes them "mine")



Here is a classic example of one my coins with a bit of "what?" ... I love the "what"