Constantine VIRTVS AVGG ET CAESS N N from Ticinum...before and after

before and after cleaning






Constantine I
A.D. 306
Ӕ follis 26x28mm 9.7g
CONSTANTINVS NOB CAES; laureate head right.
VIRTVS AVGG ET CAESS N N; Mars, helmeted, advancing right and holding spear and trophy; • in left field.
In ex. T T
RIC VI Ticinum 75

 

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Big improvement, for the most part.

 

Great job on the cleaning? How did you do it?

 

Well done! I wouldn't have expected it to turn out so well.

 

I soaked it in a solution of sodium carbonate for several weeks, changing the water as it turned blue, with period scrubbings to check the progress. I have several products with sodium carbonate, including super washing soda.





I also like alconox

 

Wow that turned out really nice. What about the remaining green spots on the reverse?

 

I'm leaving rest of the verdigris, as I don't want to mess too much more with the surface of the coin.

 

That's great information, thank you for sharing. I was just reading an article that recommended exactly this procedure and I thought to myself, "wow, I don't hear that advice often, but maybe I'll try."

The kicker... The article was in The Voice of the Turtle! (The 1960s era "North American Journal of Numismatics," but comes across as more "zine" or newsletter today, but still with a lot of interesting material.)

Seeing as their photos didn't do the subject justice, I'm glad for some present-day corroboration!

 

May I recommend a swab with VerdiCare

 

I've used it on some Byzantine Folles that had similar surfaces. I had similar results, at first. Didn't take long for the green to come back, though with a smoother surface & darker shade, & over time they seem to be losing detail (it's been a while, 5? 10? +? years). I was just looking at 2 of them recently, a Maurice Tiberius & a Tiberius II Constantine; used to be able to make out almost all the Ob Leg, now, a couple pieces of letters here & there are all that's left on either. They're just smoothing out, I don't know how else to described it. Pocket-pieces I guess. Not sure what the hell happened, but Sodium Carbonate soaks & light bushing here & there was all I did to them. Have you ever had anything like that happen with Sodium Carbonate before? I remember the shade of blue-green that the water turned after they had soaked was cool.

 

Make sure that the coin is very dry after treatment...I bake in the oven at low heat for a few hours. Then, typically, because the surfaces are "dry" I apply a small amount-- and I cannot stress how small an amount; of ren wax and brush with a silver brush until there is a sheen. Of course, keep an eye on any treated coins, and if needed rinse and repeat.