Featured How a dirty ugly duckling became a clean ugly duckling

So I had this dirty ugly duckling Nerva as a placeholder for a better Nerva. However, seeing this dirty coin between two smug smiling Trajans, I decided to practise some cleaning on it.
First, the poor ugly duckling before cleaning:

It turned out incredible fine (in my opinion at least):

Nerva AR denarius, 96-98 AD, 3.34 gm, struck in Rome January 98 AD, 3.34gm, 17.8mm.Obv: IMP NERVA CAES AVG GERM P M TR P II; laureate head right.Rev: IMP II COS IIII P P; clasped hands holding legionary eagle resting on prow.RIC II p226, 49; Cohen 98.EF
Same coin on Vcoins:
https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/ap...ed_hands_standard_prow__ef/47353/Default.aspx

I must admit: I never expected such detail, especially on the reverse. Starting the clearing process thinking "I couldn’t hurt that much on this coin", seeing the amount of detail gradually appearing under a thick layer of stone-hard dirt, my enthusiasm increased (even my wife was somewhat interested).

So the cleaning process started as most novices start: a wooden toothpick. That, of course, didn't do anything. Next step was using a small iron screwdriver to remove the upper layers of the dirt, revealing some of the details. Subsequently, I decided to cook the coin in a solution of baking soda and aluminium foil, which didn't really do anything. After that, I put the coin in a boiling solution of citric acid which had a nice effect on the encrustation, as it became a bit porous allowing me to remove it with said screwdriver.

Interestingly, while the obverse side, which was less encrusted and largely unpatinated, became very shiny, after ca. 5-6 cycles in the same solution, it turned nicely dark. As if a new patina formed. This effect is best visible on the back of Nerva's neck; I stopped before the whole coin turned black.

As for the title: the very characteristic portrait of Nerva with his hook-nose is still nicely visible. It's not a pretty looking fellow, but after this cleaning adventure, I'd like him even more

Please post your cleaning adventures, preferably with how you did it!

 

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Hilarious.

Agree.

All in all, this may be the most valuable feature of the coin.

 

Oops, copied it a bit too enthousiastic.

 

Nice job cleaning. Pretty good results on that silver.

 

Screwdriver? My sphincter puckered! Never use something harder than the metal the coin is made of. That's why they have brass brushes.

 

@Roerbakmix
That is an amazing result.. I would never have guessed that the reverse would come up like that. Great job!!

Other than scrubbing a few LRBs I have been too afraid to try anything more drastic. I love reading these threads and maybe some day I will try. Maybe.

 

Thanks @ancient coin hunter and @Clavdivs! I couldn't do much harm to it: given the state the coin was it was just a placeholder for a better Nerva to come.

@TheFinn, I think I should nuance it a bit. I've used the manual by Saúl Roll (http://www.romanorum.com/docs/A Method for cleaning ancient coins. Romanorum.com.pdf) which is very detailed. He uses diamond encrusted needles, which are arguably harder than any coin I've encountered so far, yet with very nice results.

Hope your sphincter is oke!

 

Yikes! Oh wow! Yes, we can see the results quite clearly of the screwdriver! Try a gentler approach in the future!

 

Woooahhh... I don't clean, and if you do, always use a tool that is SOFTER than the metal you are acting on...

That being said; in fact, I have had ONE coin of mine cleaned...

Before


IN-PROCESS


After


Postumus, 259-268 AD
antoninianus, 20 mm, 3.2 gm, Cologne
Obv: IMP C POSTVMVS PF AVG Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev: PROVIDENTIA AVG, Providentia standing left holding globe and transverse scepter

THIS IS A DRAMATIZATION. ACTUALLY, I sent the coin to @YOC in the UK and he used a secret solution and soaked the green off my coin. He found, unbeknownst to us, that it was SILVERED. Cool.

NO SCREWDRIVERS WERE USED TO KILL ANY ANIMALS OR TOUCHED TO ANCIENT COINS...

Only coin from my collection that was ever cleaned. @YOC was kind enough to clean mine...cool results.