Boy. Don't you hate it when you get a coin with strong details, great patina, but almost complete encrusted in the hardest limestone deposits you've ever seen? It's very sad. Knowing that it would take forever to manually remove the deposits, I of course opted for the nuclear option: la chemie. First go, as always, was sodium hydroxide. This removed most of the deposits, but left a rather odd blue deposits instead. So, into the vinegar it went, which took off the blue but left some reddish brown. So, into the lemon juice it went, which didn't do much of anything at all. Final dip was sodium thiosulfate which made a reasonable attack against the rust deposits. Finally, some Jax Brown-Black and a coat of Ren Wax later, it looks great! I do with the color was more even and the patina retained, but you can't win them all. Reverse became a little porous, but at least it's visible. The letters took a bit hit, unfortunately. I could probably toss this in a rock tumbler or something for a more attractive appearance, I suppose. Maximinus II Daia AE Follis IMPCGALVALMAXIMINVSPFAVG. Laureate head right. GENIOA VGVSTI. Genius left, eagle at feet, holding cornucopia, gamma in right field 21mm 3.9g RIC VI Cyzicus 84a, V MM: MKV
I see what you did there! "To Daia for" noice. Looks like Sol had to Daia in a gruesome fashion on this one:
