Its this one http://www.vcoins.com/ancient/tomcederlind/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=771 I wanted to start off with one of the earliest roman coins..i can't believe how small it is..anywho, it is all silver and I've already touched it (doh!). What is the best way to clean it now and keep it safe?, it did come in a little plastic sleeve, with 2 sides on it..one with the coin and another with a just a paper with some words on it. I've read that plastic may not be good for it? Also I'd figure it would of came with some certificate of authencity but i guess not.. how should it be stored also by the way..i guess air conditioning dry area. It is silver...won't it tarnish? should I put some kind of coating on it? Thanks for any help you can provide!
Congrats! tarnish/tone Best to not coat it with anything, or clean it. But it is yours Is the plastic flip hard and brittle or soft and flexible? I use the PVC free flips and just keep them in an album. Some use coin trays. Since you got it from vcoins, I suppose this is your certificate of authenticity http://www.vcoins.com/coe.asp
We all have opinions about how to keep coins. I use trays but that seems overkill when you have just one coin. Listen to the advice given above. Most dealers send coins in PVC containing soft flips which are bad for long term use so you should change that. Paper envelopes work as do the PVC free flips. The photo suggests the coin has already been cleaned more than necessary. Do no more damage. Silver retones in a few years and may look better in a decade or two.
Don't worry about touching it too much. Part of the fun of ancients is being able to touch something that old. And most ancients collectors like toning, so don't worry about it getting darker. I'd recommend putting it in a PVC free* flip if it isn't already in one. If your flip is really pliable, it's not, but if it's rather stiff (like you could stand it up like the letter A easily), then you're probably fine. *Edit: These usually aren't actually free of PVC despite being called "PVC free," but they don't have the plasticizers, so they're much safer than regular flips for coins.
I will add to the good comments above. Don't clean it with anything. If you handle the coin, hold it by the edges and always hold it over a soft surface in case you drop it. Avoid talking over the coin & avoid opening a can of soda near it which can contaminate the coin's surface. Don't store it in a soft plastic flip (for long term archival storage) as the soft plastic can contaminate the coin's surface. Enjoy your 2,150 year old coin!
Congrats on the purchase. One bit of warning. They can be very addictive so get ready to spend a lot of money. Have fun
Welcome to the hobby. The dealer you chose has a great reputation, and that looks like a nice coin. I'd recommend getting a few books on the subject if you haven't already.
That's a beautiful Republican piece you have there wstalcup, very nice. A great start to one of the most interesting areas of coin collecting.
...and so it begins. Next thing you know your postman and you are on a first name basis, you ask him about his kids little league team, and you keep getting parcels in the mail that you honestly do not remembering ordering. Then come the books, and the same postman starts giving you the evil eye the next time he delivers three 40 pound cases out of the back of his vehicle, cursing your name and the fact you are on his route...... Welcome to the hobby
Good post. I've gone through a few postmen (and this same scenario) a few times. We are on a first name basis with all of them past & present.
