Actually, I want to know how I should clean my crocodile. I finally got one of those COL NEM coins and am very pleased with the reverse detail for the price point. It's dark and glossy, so a bit hard to photograph. Above is the same coin photographed with my cell phone in different forms of light. Unless I buy an "uncleaned" or semi-cleaned lot, I don't try to improve a purchased coin; typically, in the tray it goes. But I think this reverse can be improved. There seems to be some gunk under the croc's belly and around his eye and in the chain. I'd like to see if I could get a cleaner reverse. I am deathly afraid of soaking a somewhat pricey coin. I did that years ago to an Agrippa/Neptune coin to treat it for bronze disease and ruined the patina. I'd rather just stay mechanical for this coin. I had thought about getting some nylon brushes for my Dremel and having a go at it. I am assuming that nylon bristles would be soft enough to not affect the patina, but I may be mistaken here. And don't worry--if there's a serious chance of making this coin worse, I won't touch it. I am Hippocrates when it comes to ancients: FIRST, DO NO HARM. So, CT friends. Can this reverse be improved? Would nylon bristles in a Dremel rotary tool be a fairly safe step? Or should I pop it in the tray and not risk offending the Sacrae Monetae?
Most deposits on ancient coins are harder than you might think. Imagine they are clay that has been fired rather than dirt, or perhaps concrete that has set. I doubt nylon will do anything to remove it. Most of the gunk is in the background so I would leave it alone. John
Not a bad coin as it is - crud seems to be very minor. After tiring myself out cleaning uncleaned coins for a couple of years and getting boatloads of Falling Horseman types I decided to hang up my toothbrush and dental pick, so now I only go after quality coins to begin with - it's much less frustrating.
That coin will not clean. Any attempt will remove patina and devalue it. I had a very similar one from CNG that I thought I could clean up a bit, but after seeing it realized the deposits were more like encrustations and I left it alone.
Good morning and Happy Valentines Day to all. That is one nice croc. Congratulations and thank you for posting it. Could we see the boys on the obverse (if it is not too much trouble)? I agree that this adorable coin could be improved below the belly; but, that poor little guy is blinded by the same gunk and it would be great to be able to see his bulging eyes! Your coin does not require cleaning. It requires "tidying" which I suggest you do not attempt at this time. Since there is no reason to rush to clean it, you might find something helpful in instructions I am trying to finish writing about how I do it which I intend to post here when complete. That's the reason I have not been posting much on CT recently. I've been coin cleaning and tidying, taking lots of photographs at various stages, writing about it and deciding how best to instruct others to achieve great results. But even so, I can not imagine recommending to anyone that they try to tidy their own croc, especially if it will be one of the first fifty ancients they clean using my methods. Again, thank you for posting your delightful croc. I love it.
Welp. I'm sensing a consensus. Looks like my croc will stay dirty. He probably likes it better that way anyway. Here's the obverse. I'm thrilled with the Augustus detail. Agrippa, not so much. Hated to lose the rostral crown in the uneven patina. But that's probably why this was a $200 coin ($229, actually) and not a $400 coin. This coin design is so busy, it's hard to get everything you want in good detail without spending several hundred dollars.
Are you kidding? Those boys look great. You have a very nice croc compared to what I have seen out there and for 200 clams? Beautiful coin and a great price.
Captured it this way, and I ain't gonna touch it! I always like everyone's "uncleaned" coins... patina, dirt, etc. adds cool character to them! My Croc says: "Touch me... I BITE thee!" RI Augustus oak crown -Agrippa rostral crown L AE Dupondius 26mm 12.6g 10-14 CE Nemausus chained Croc wreaths RIC I 158
Hippocrates said many things that might be controversial today but the 'Do no harm' advice is a universal truth. When a coin already shows pitting below the original surface, you are unlikely to improve it; change it, perhaps, but not improve. My favorite coin cleaning method for a coin like this was first shown to me by a dealer years ago who pulled out his pocket change to reveal among the quarters and nickels a rough tetradrachm of Uranus Antoninus. His theory was that the wear might reduce the coin from ragged VF to smooth F or even VG which would look better than the uneven mess as it was. I tend to agree since I like good, even surfaces more than I like a lack of wear. Do I recommend you try this with this coin? No. I am not Hippocrates but I play him on the Internet. What I do recommend is buying coins that you can live with in the 'as is' condition and allowing others who believe they are better at it to do the anti-Hippocratic cleaning. Do I follow my advice all the time? Certainly not and I regret not listening to myself as often as not. Cleaning coins is a multi step process. Hippocrates gave step one. Step two is: 'Learn when to stop before you have gone too far and violated step one.'
Good advice indeed. Into the tray it goes. Aside from a clear rostral crown, this coin checked off all the boxes I wanted in the type: links in the chain, some nice portrait details, nasty croc teeth and dimples, and legible legends.
That's a good one ! My last attempt at crocodile hunting Augustus & Agrippa, AE Dupondius Nemausus mint, after AD 10 4th type IMP DIVI F PP, Laureate heads of Augustus looking right and Agrippa looking left, back to back COL NEM, Crocodile chained to palm tree 13,52 gr Ref : RCV #1731, Cohen #8 Q
That's a nice portrait of Agrippa, Q. Seems to almost be scowling. Unusually expressive for this type.
