As you know, I am just starting to collect Ancients. Here is a batch I will attempt to clean up. Wish me luck! Looks like only three I will have a problem with ID'ing. Sorry but coins may show as attachment and not in body of message. Group of 10 coins from EBAY. This is second shipment from seller, first ones were garbage! Obverse when they arrived Reverse when they arrived. Kept in same order as above. These are much nicer coins. Can see gunk falling off. Obverse after soaking and light cleaning: Reverse after soaking and light cleaning: The three missing coins had to go back for more soaking. Now to ID them!
Welcome to the Ancients Forum, @Texturn ! That’s an interesting group of coins but the verdigris appears flaky and powdery. I’m not an expert so I can’t advise you on cleaning techniques and what steps to take. I hope that the verdigris is benign. Other Forum members will weigh in soon.
Cleaning is considered a no/no, except when done by a professional. Slabbed coins have "cleaning" under details=fault. Even in Triton auction many of the Roman provincials have tiny deposits.... John
That batch is pretty clean. I'd take it easy on them - maybe some distilled water and a toothbrush. Most are attributable. You can check out the reverse types on wildwinds.com to narrow down which coin each is. Have fun!
Most of those coins look pretty stable. I don't think you will hurt them by soaking. A little dish-washing detergent and a toothbrush won't do any damage. Even a light brushing with a brass-bristle brush should be safe for most of them--the two that you put back for additional soaking in particular. But be careful with the one in the middle of the top row, the one with the two figures shaking hands on the reverse. That one has a much more delicate surface. I would call that one done for now. Set it aside and admire it--it's a very attractive coin.
An important skill is to know when to quit. When a coin is as good as it will get, stop torturing it. I agree the Aurelian is finished. The 3/4 bust Arcadius/Honorius? and the Constans in the upper right may be best left alone as well. sometimes you can make a minor finish just by rubbing the coin between your fingers. It is also time to work on photo skills. From the photo provided, how are we to tell the needs of the hut scene coin in the upper left?
