Coin Abuse (NSFW)

I regret to inform you that I have turned myself into the Numismatic Police for the abuse that I subjected this coin to.

While riding the high of the Trajan that I recovered from the depths of Hades, I decided to "improve" the appearance of my boy 7Sev. Nothing can stop me. I'm a superhero.




Here's a denarius. Looks pretty good. But, there's a bit of horn silver, which just won't do. What is a man to do but to toss it in sodium thiosulfate? Sounds reasonable, right?


Unfortunately, this didn't work. So I then grab my mad scientist's collection of random chemicals and dunk it in everything I can find. It just keeps getting worse and worse. At one point, the coin turned completely black and nothing could recover it. I even applied Tarn-X which just made it look even uglier.

At wit's end, I took some Hagerty Silversmith polish and the results are....not great.

Hilariously enough, this coin now looks totally fake. Amazing.

Lesson: sometimes it's best to leave good enough alone.

 

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Might finish it with Ren Wax. That might blend the surface irregularities.

 

Good idea! Certainly won't hurt...

 

I would recommend against this.

 

I've never tried Ren Wax on silver, only bronze. Does it not work on silver?

 

That stuff is garbage on bronze coins IMO and certainly brings down the value for several valid reasons.
But look into it before following some randos advice, ESPECIALLY on silver.
Using ren crap, as advertised, locks in the coin, forever. And on silver will stop it from toning. Ensuring your coin looks this bright, shiny and damaged forever. As you said, from bad to worse... and then to worst.
Set it on a high up windowsill and forget about it for a year or two. You'll be much happier for it then further damage.

 

Thanks for the advice! I'll certainly try that.

 

Doesn't it come off with acetone?

 

For what it's worth, I think the cleaned version looks better. I'm not seeing "fake" so much as "cleaned." Nice job.

 

I'd leave the coin alone now. Let it tone down over time. This takes patience, but the results should be beneficial.

 

Just the kind of stuff we want smeared all over our artistic pieces of ancient propaganda and commerce passed down through the ages

 

Now you're gonna think I'm evil , but if it's an ultra-thin layer and removable, I don't really have a problem with it (i.e. Ren wax) on AE. (Though of course it is a major problem if it seals in bronze disease that quickly destroys the coin!)

 

Thanks! I do kinda like the cameo effect. For a display piece it’s not bad

 

Ren wax is easily removable with acetone and acetone evaporates quickly and completely - which is why you must be in a very well ventilated space to use it.

Both are used in many museums worldwide. I watched both being used by curators in the Wallace Collection museum in London some years ago on a visit to the back rooms.

Of course it is entirely up to anyone whether they use them or not, but neither do damage in and of themselves.

That said, only use Red wax when you are sure you want to seal the coin's surface in.

As for making the coin shiny - I find Red wax does that for a while and then it slowly goes dull but can be buffed up again with a quick rub with a microfibre cloth.

SC