Cleaning Advice: Arcadius Bronze

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Bradley Trotter, Sep 21, 2020.

  1. Bradley Trotter

    Bradley Trotter Well-Known Member

    Obverse:

    Arcadius Follis Obverse.JPG

    Reverse:

    Arcadius Follis Reverse.JPG

    Arcadius
    Follis
    392 - 395 A.D.
    Obverse: AD. D N ARCADIVS P F AVG
    Reverse: GLORIA ROMANVM
    Antioch
    RIC IX 68c
     
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2020
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  3. fomovore

    fomovore Active Member

    By cleaning, do you mean getting rid of the brown incrustations?
     
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  4. Ryro

    Ryro Trying to remove supporter status

    Distilled water soak for a few days to a week. Followed by a soft scrub with that old tooth brush you have laying around.

    Joke told by a dad: how do we know the tooth brush was invented in Alabama?
    Because otherwise we'd call it the teeth brush!
     
  5. fomovore

    fomovore Active Member

    Then, I second the distilled water/gentle mechanical scrubbing approach. I think everything else will change the patina color.
     
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  6. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    ..i smiled like a baby at that thar one...yuk yuk! :woot: smile 001.JPG ...ok...back 2 pappy yon & pizza...:D
     
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2020
  7. gsimonel

    gsimonel Well-Known Member

    As an inveterate coin cleaner, I'd be very careful with that one. From the photo--that's all I have to go by--it looks like the coin has a fragile, green patina, with the brown part underneath. If this is the case, then cleaning the coin and removing the green will remove most of the detail.

    If, however, the brown is actually covering the green, then yes, distilled water soaks alternated with gentle scrubbing with a toothbrush and dish-washing liquid might be helpful.
     
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  8. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Kind of a tough one. AE2 of Arcadius. I've done some cleaning of similar encrustations and also have had my best luck by mechanical means, e.g. water soak, toothbrush, dental pick. I would not try olive oil or liquid descaler which is sometimes recommended.
     
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  9. Bradley Trotter

    Bradley Trotter Well-Known Member

    I've never cleaned any ancient coins before. I personally wouldn't mind waiting for a few more members to chime in. However, at this point, I'm certainly leaning towards not cleaning it.
     
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