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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Roerbakmix, post: 3506788, member: 100731&quot;]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. </p><p>First, the poor ugly duckling before cleaning:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]930068[/ATTACH] </p><p>It turned out incredible fine (in my opinion at least):</p><p>[ATTACH=full]930069[/ATTACH] </p><p>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</p><p>Same coin on Vcoins: </p><p><a href="https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/apollo_numismatics/12/product/nerva_ar_denarius__clasped_hands_standard_prow__ef/47353/Default.aspx" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/apollo_numismatics/12/product/nerva_ar_denarius__clasped_hands_standard_prow__ef/47353/Default.aspx" rel="nofollow">https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/apollo_numismatics/12/product/nerva_ar_denarius__clasped_hands_standard_prow__ef/47353/Default.aspx</a></p><p><br /></p><p>I must admit: I never expected such detail, especially on the reverse. Starting the clearing process thinking &quot;I couldn’t hurt that much on this coin&quot;, seeing the amount of detail gradually appearing under a thick layer of stone-hard dirt, my enthusiasm increased (even my wife was somewhat interested).</p><p><br /></p><p>So the cleaning process started as most novices start: a wooden toothpick. That, of course, didn&#039;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&#039;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.</p><p><br /></p><p>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&#039;s neck; I stopped before the whole coin turned black.</p><p><br /></p><p>As for the title: the very characteristic portrait of Nerva with his hook-nose is still nicely visible. It&#039;s not a pretty looking fellow, but after this cleaning adventure, I&#039;d like him even more <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>Please post your cleaning adventures, preferably with how you did it![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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