Hi All, I got a few coins in the mail the other day and one, an Augustus Denarius, arrived in two decent-sized pieces and a million smaller pieces that, if they hadn't fluttered down into my couch cushions when I opened the package, would probably add up to about a quarter of the coin. My question is this: How do I go about gluing the two decent-sized pieces back together? Would I just use drug-store superglue and care?
No, the coin broke in transit. It was part of a two-coin lot and the seller refunded me half, so I feel whole.
I've only had this happen once a few years back, and the seller refunded the entire amount and told me to keep the pieces. Not like the coin is going to ever be much now that it's in several pieces. It seems to me that it's up to the seller to package these things in a way that will prevent breakage in transit. BTW, I still have all the pieces in a flip.
Yeah he didn't ask for the broken coin back, but since the other coin arrived in tact he only offered the half refund. The broken coin was probably the more valuable of the two, by just a touch, but I targeted the lot because of the other coin so I figured all's fair.
Sounds like you're happy with what you got and the seller took care of you to your satisfaction. Forget gluing the coins. Put all the pieces in a flip and call it good.
Some methods will be rather permanent (super glue). As a dealer and collector of antiquities I have always done the same thing. Use ONLY water soluble glue. In the US Elmers is the brand I know (not sure what the chemical composition is or the common name). This way if the repair job comes out wrong one can reverse the repair. I have seen many dealers make horrid and permanent repairs with the wrong materials. I have only had good luck with Elmers (well, I have never repaired a coin, but a great many antiquities). It is true that one can use such permanent glues. I have in the past restored Roman glass bottles from darned near dust using super glue, but that is only if one is REALLY confident in their abilities.
Funny. someone today posted a thread titled.. Do you have any broken coins? A few hours after yours https://www.cointalk.com/threads/do-you-have-any-broken-coins.286477/
Recently the Richmond Virginia Museum of Fine Arts took apart their full length statue of Caligula and replaced the head at a different angle correcting assembly errors made decades ago and making the whole look more like it actually belonged that way. I understand the process of correcting restoration errors is quite common in the museum world now that slapping thing together any old way has ceased to be fashionable in those circles.
Thanks Ken--this was really useful. Elmer's glue would have seemed like a blunt instrument, but I guess that has more to do with the big hole in the tip of the bottle than the actual glue. If I do decide to glue the coin back together I'm going to be a lot more comfortable about it now. And based on your glass bottle anecdote I may dive into the couch cushions in search of tiny bits of silver.
Well if nothing else I know that I'm more comfortable if Mr. Caligula is not looking directly at me, so good on the Richmond Virginia Museum of Fine Arts!
I remember trying to tape a young Hydrangea plant back together after I had mistakenly weed whacked it down.........I still got busted by the wife.
If one doe use superglue, remember that acetone will dissolve even set CA glue. I use it to glue stones on a dop for faceting and then let them soak in acetone to release with no force.
