I sort of bought this by accident - thought I could throw it in for free shipping along with something else, then I got outbid on the something else. I was full of buyer's remorse, but when it came in the mail, I rather like the ugly little thing, and it was $5.50 with shipping. The green stuff looks like bronze disease? I'm not going to do anything with it since I like the contrast. Let it rot, in this case. Anyway, I know nothing about these except what I read here and poking around Google. I found a Vcoin listing that looks like mine (except much, much nicer). Please straighten me out if I'm wrong. It weighs 8.3 grams. AE Tetradrachm 7.30g. 21mm. RY 6 (274-275 A.D.) Alexandria Mint Laureate cuirassed bust r. A K L DOM AURHLIANOC CEB Eagle standing r., palm on wing, wreath in beak; ETOVC S in fields. Emmett 3927
Yes, that is BD. I'm sorry you're not going to try to treat it. I don't know the timeframe for it turning into little more than pile of green powder but it's well on its way.
I really hope you reconsider not treating it There are other ways of getting contrast that won't destroy the coin. It doesn't matter if it's high grade or not, it's still an ancient coin that has survived against all odds.
I know BD is a chemical reaction and not a "disease." But one shouldn't keep an "infected" coin near other coins, correct? Or is that a myth?
I'd do my best to treat and salvage that coin. It's a great coin to gain experience in saving a coin but more so because I love the muscles in that roosters legs.
If it is BD(I'm not 100% sure), this thing is going to be a pile of green powder with no "contrast" at all at some point if you don't treat it. Who cares if was only $5.50, be a good steward of this little piece of antiquity that you've managed to acquire and try and save it. Just my two cents but if you don't care you should find another hobby and leave ancient coins to those who care enough to not let them rot into dust.
Take as much of it off as you can with a nonmetal object and/or toothbrush, then nuke it in an oven at 400° F for 20 minutes. If there's still some afterwards, keep baking it. The coin will darken but the BD should go away. Then keep the coin in a cool dry place. I agree with @red_spork ; ancient coins shouldn't be condemned to rot just because they happen to be cheap or common.
I'm not sure anyone will save the coin but it was once a nice specimen and trying won't hurt. VK gave good first steps and will show what is underneath allowing you to decide if it is worth going further. The chemicals in a BD coin can transfer to another coin and start eating at it as well so that is a lot of where the name disease comes from. Note how much better detail (under the blue) you have than mine does. If you wash away the bright colors and find smooth brown below, we will be happy we were wrong.
This Aurellian Tet costs me almost twice as much as yours cost you, When it was delivered about 2 years ago it to had BD, but only a few spots. Now though, it's disease free
Thanks to Doug's photo I can see it's not a rooster but an eagle. Who would have thought? Not me, obviously. Clean it!
Thank you all for your comments on my (probably) diseased coin. I was too flippant with my "let it rot" comment and for that I am sorry. I do want to be a good steward and perhaps I'll reconsider my decision to let it be. I was especially impressed by Smojo's cleaned example - for about a year now I've been following BD posts here (even before I joined) and the "saved" BD's that I recall were pretty hideous - pitted husks. Which is better than a pile of green powder, I suppose. My other consideration comes from personal experience. I've been collecting coins for about 40 years, since I was a kid, seriously for 31 years, since 1987. And in these years I picked up a coin that is Yemen Quaiti State countermark on a Zanzibar paisa. This is a pretty rare item (rarer than the catalog indicates). I got it cheap out of a World Coin News ad about 30 years ago and it is afflicted, I think, with bronze disease. The thing is, 30 years have passed and I have done nothing to it except change its non-PVC flip from time to time (it gets a little green powder sometimes). My point being that there has been virtually no change in 30 years and I haven't harmed it by ineptly cleaning it. My thoughts on the Aurelian tet is that it is not actively flaking in my hand - which I know means that it might still be rotting down below. (Incidentally, the seller (eBay) had a lot of four Egyptian bronzes, with virtually no description - he says they were all "just out of the ground" - they all had this same green stuff on 'em. I got the worst of the lot - there were some other tets and a really big Ptolemy something-or-other (which I was outbid on)). But you guys give me confidence that maybe I can do something. I'll give it a shot, but I'm going to watch it for a while. Your passion over this small, rather unattractive little coin is inspiring. Here's my Yemen (Quaiti State) countermark on a Zanzibar paisa - maybe it's not BD, but I suspect it is:
This toothpaste-blue stuff is patina and hard and not powdery -- it is NOT bronze disease. I like the contrast it makes with the devices.
I'd clean that Yemen coin as well. Looks like a great coin and a wonderful piece of history. I for one would like to see pre and post photos if you choose to clean them. The longer they stay in this condition the worse the coin gets. As you said there's been no change that you can see in 30 years. You also said it was rarer than catalog indicates so why leave it as is? You didn't say how old it is but its been slowly deteriorating over the many years. How long would it take to destroy the coin? I don't know but I'm sure I'll be long gone but why wait? Save it for someone else. If you're unsure how to clean, research CT past posts and ask more experienced members. Clean the coin in your original post to gain experience for the Yemen coin. Best wishes.
I would treat the Yemen coin with Verdicare. http://www.wizardcoinsupply.com/products/verdi-care.html Its safe and it works well.
Well, you guys were right. The Aurelian Tet. did deserve a chance. I baked it for 20 minutes at 400 degrees per ValientKnight's recommendation (thank you, VK!). It took a lot of the green off. I'll do another round in the oven on our next pizza night. Might try some Verdicare too, but the oven seems to be working - I am curious to see if I can bake my problems away here (it works with cookies and pizza, so I'll try it with coins). The appearance is improved, although as I figured, the pitting has been revealed, especially on the obverse; but it was there anyway. The reverse look much, much better. Thank you all for your encouragement (and some scolding too - learning can be painful ). Here it is after baking: Thanks again, everybody.
I’m also attempting to remove BD from some affordable coins and I’m just trying the method from a Wayne Sayles book. 1. Soak in distilled water for about a month (changing water every day or two) 2. Gently brush the powdery areas at each water change (soft brass bristle brush works well) 3. After you’ve removed most of the powder bake at 200-250 degrees for 2 to 3 hours 4. Let the coin cool a bit before handling then seal with Renaissance Wax I’m still in the soak phase so can’t speak to the effectiveness just yet.
