I obtained these coins recently, and I'm trying to decide whether to clean them - and if so, how. Do these look fine as is, or should I soak them in something? Thank you in advance for your help. This one has a few green spots I'm a bit concerned about. Kings of Pergamon. Pergamon. Philetairos 282-263 BC. Bronze Æ 12 mm, 1,69 g Still trying to decide whether this is BMC 60 or SNG Cop 351. I thought it was BMC 60 when I bought it (which I believe is lifetime), but I now realize it may be SNG Cop 351. I'm wondering if there's a way to remove the gunk/sank on the reverse. Kings of Macedon. Sardeis. Alexander III "the Great" 336-323 BC. Bronze Æ 14 mm, 4,45 g 323-319 BCE Price 2605 Minted by Menander or Kleitos the White I'm not sure if this is just a nice patina, or if I should try to soak the green off. Kings of Thrace. Seuthes III 323-316 BC. Bronze Æ 19 mm, 6,04 g This is ordinarily a very sharp coin, but the green spots and sand seem to affect it. I'm wondering if I should do anything. Mysia. Lampsakos. Memnon of Rhodes circa 360-300 BC. Bronze Æ 8 mm, 0,62 g
If when you run your finger nail across the green it doesn't scrape off its more than likely just patina. That said, LOVELY MSC!!! I had my eye on that one as well. With the kerykeion (the Pic has the obverse upside down btw) already starting to disappear I wouldn't recommend anything more drastic then distilled water for a week and a scrub, but only on the reverse. Though, personally I wouldn't even do that. She's beautiful just the way she is to me. With the other two, they both have such a great black patina I would recommend the same. Nothing more than distilled water. You don't want to lose such money patina in hopes that things will improve. Here's one of my kerykeion MSCs: Alexander III 'the Great' (336-323 BC). Ae. Sardes. Struck under Menander or Kleitos, circa 322-319/8 BC Obv: Shield with caduceus on boss. Rev: B - A. Macedonian helmet. Controls: kerykeion to right, rose to left. A underneath helmet Price -; Liampi, Schild M 8. Condition: Very fine. Weight: 3.07 g. Diameter: 14 mm. Purchased from Savoca May 2021
Don't mess with the first one. There's nothing on it that will come off without causing damage to the patina. You can probably remove the sand from the reverse of the second coin. I would use a brass rod with one end filed into a point while looking through a stereo microscope. If you're not yet ready to make that kind of a commitment, start with a toothpick or pointy bamboo skewer. There doesn't appear to be anything left to remove from the obverse, but you won't hurt it with a toothpick. The third and fourth coins both look like they still have a little bit of dirt on them. I don't think you can hurt the 3rd coin with a toothpick, but I don't think you will improve it much. The patina of the 4th one gives me pause. It looks very fragile. I wouldn't mess with it.
Thanks! Funny thing is I was extremely upset at myself initially for buying it. My rule is to only purchase coins attributed to Alexander + Era of the Diadochi personas that I don't have. I like shield coins, but I'm not supposed to buy them. However, this one looked interesting and wasn't too much (I got into a bidding war with someone else for another one, but wisely gave up) so I bought it. When I received the coin and looked it up, I realized I could attribute it to Menander and Kleitos the White. Then I felt better.
