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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;DonnaML, post: 4513255, member: 110350&quot;]As I&#039;ve mentioned a couple of times before (see, for example, <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/suggestions-for-sellers-on-vcoins.357976/page-2#post-4325108" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/suggestions-for-sellers-on-vcoins.357976/page-2#post-4325108">https://www.cointalk.com/threads/suggestions-for-sellers-on-vcoins.357976/page-2#post-4325108</a>), some months ago, when I didn&#039;t know enough to recognize the issue of artificial toning, I bought this Hadrian-Aegyptos denarius from Athena Numismatics.</p><p><br /></p><p>Hadrian AR Denarius, 136 AD, Travel Series, Rome Mint. Obv: HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, bare head right / Rev: AEGYPTOS, Egypt reclining left, holding sistrum in right hand and resting left arm on basket; to left, ibis standing right. RIC II-3 1482 (2019 ed.), old RIC II 297d (1926 ed.), RSC II 99, Sear RCV II 3456, BMCRE 801-3. 18 mm., 3.11 g., 7 h.</p><p><br /></p><p>Seller&#039;s image:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1118278[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>When the coin arrived at the beginning of January, it looked even &quot;bluer&quot; and more artificial (if that&#039;s even possible!) than in the photo, especially on the reverse. All of a sudden, I really didn&#039;t like the way it looked.&nbsp; I started looking at some of Athena&#039;s other coins, and realized that the proprietor seemed to have a large number of coins for sale with a similarly artificial-looking blue patina. (You can see one current example at <a href="https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/athena_numismatics/18/product/otho_ad_69_ar_denarius_bold_portrait/1296224/Default.aspx" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/athena_numismatics/18/product/otho_ad_69_ar_denarius_bold_portrait/1296224/Default.aspx" rel="nofollow">https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/athena_numismatics/18/product/otho_ad_69_ar_denarius_bold_portrait/1296224/Default.aspx</a>, but I don&#039;t think there are any right now where it&#039;s quite as extensive as on mine.) After I joined this forum and asked about the coin, I was advised that the seller probably achieves the effect with liver of sulfur.&nbsp; When I asked here and on the ancient coins Facebook group I belong to if there might be any way of getting rid of the blue toning, people recommended a variety of possible approaches. The simplest approach was recommended by [USER=76694]@Eukratides[/USER], who advised me to try soaking the coin for a short time on aluminum foil at the bottom of a glass or ceramic bowl, in a solution -- heated to a point just short of boiling -- made with 1.5 cups of distilled water, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon of laundry detergent.</p><p><br /></p><p>I finally decided earlier today to try that method, and went to retrieve the coin from its tray, where it had been sitting undisturbed for the last 4 1/2 months.&nbsp; I hadn&#039;t even looked at it closely in quite some time, and certainly hadn&#039;t done anything to it. I had never even tried rinsing it off to see if that changed anything.&nbsp; But somehow, most of the artificial blue tone had, as if by magic, disappeared by itself:</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;[ATTACH=full]1118282[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1118283[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>The only place where I could really see any remaining blue toning was the area above Egypt&#039;s sistrum.&nbsp; I probably should have left well enough alone, since the improvement was remarkable (although entirely mysterious to me), but went ahead and prepared the solution recommended by [USER=76694]@Eukratides[/USER], although I let the coin soak in it for only a few minutes.&nbsp; This is what it looks like now; I don&#039;t see any remaining blue toning whatsoever:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1118284[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1118285[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Obviously, I&#039;m much happier with how the coin looks now than I was with the way it looked when I bought it.&nbsp; But can anyone explain to me how 99% of the artificial toning disappeared by itself in the space of 4 1/2 months?[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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