I am combining my first post with my first coin of 2020. I had wanted to add a Claudius-Messalina Tetradrachm of Alexandria to my Claudius group. I have had my eye on several but eventually went for an inexpensive one. It seemed in reasonable condition but the seller warned that it appeared to have been lacquered at some point and this surface had become very dirty. The coin certainly was very dirty but I bought it with a view to experiment with solvents. I cleaned a tiny part of the reverse using acetone and this immediately softened and removed the lacquer. I carried on working in small areas under magnifiers and was pleased with the results. With any sort of restoration/cleaning, it is good to stop early rather than go too far. I left some tone in the background so that the bust, figure and text stood out a little. I washed the coin well in distilled water and dried it. I would stress that I was not experimenting on an expensive coin. Howver, I am now very pleased with it both in the hand and in the tray. It was a good start to the year. In this image, "before" is above and "after" below: A Claudius tetradrachm of Alexandria. Billon with high silver content. Reverse shows Messalina standing left. There are a few small copper deposits on the surface. Diameter approx 25mm at widest, weight approx 11.0g.
You are a braver man than I am. But I think you did improve the eye appeal of the coin. Is there any risk of damaging the metal? I have never worked with acetone.
First off... Always happy to have more contributers to the coin talk collective! B- Nice new coin! I Love collecting Roman personalities. And Messalina certainly was one. And one that I don't have yet. And three: Great clean up job. I ALWAYS make it worse when I try to "help" a coin. And with the coins porosity I would've been to worried to attempt what you've succeeded at. Cheers! And again, welcome
Some people have made claims that acetone will turn copper weird colors, but even more people dispute those claims. On silver, no problem except that it can strip fake patinas.
Quite a difference between "Before" and After cleaning. Wise means to begin the year with a silver Tet for personal test, belonging to an Emperor of the twelve Caesars, at a very affordable price. Keep up the hunt, and Welcome Here.
Quite an improvement! This is my Messalina coin. I love it to have a tet with this special lady on the reverse Claudius & Valeria Messalina, Tetradrachm Struck at Alexandria in Egypt in regnal year 1 (A.D. 41/2). Obv: TI KΛAΩΔI KAIΣ ΣEBA ΓEPMANI AYTOKP, laureate head of Claudius right, Rev: MEΣΣAΛI-NA KAIΣ ΣEBAΣ, Messalina standing facing, head left, leaning on draped column, holding figures of two children (Octavia and Britannicus) in extended right hand and cradling two grain ears in left arm. 25 mm 13.21gm. RPC I 5113.
Nice job, and welcome to CoinTalk! These particular coins do not really capture Messalina's reputed beauty, do they?
Nice conservation effort. Laquer can trap moisture and become acidic over time. It also looks terrible when it gets yellow like that. What else do you have in your collection? John
