I cleaned a coin

So, I was waiting and waiting to clean this coin. I went back and forth between cleaning it and leaving it alone. I left it alone for about a year but it finally bothered me to the point where I cleaned it.

Normally I would not put myself through so much angst over a very simple cleaning job but the coin in question is a denarius of Claudius.

Here is the before



Here is the after.

 

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Nicely done. How'd you do it?

 

A weak solution of distilled water and baking soda applied very very gently.

 

The difference is night and day. Does it shine now?

 

Good job. Excellent results.

 

Great job!

 

It is not very shiny, it is just clean. I was careful not to make it too shiny. It should look almost 2000 years old after all. I could not stand the splotchiness. If it had an even tarnish or toning, I would have left it alone.

 

That is okay, we cannot all like the same things. Imagine what a dull word that would be. Click on the second picture you will see the larger version.

 

Yeah, I still prefer the "before" look.

 

I'd agree, I prefer the before.

 

Exactly what does this mean? Did you make a paste of the baking soda and scour the coin or did you completely dissolve the baking soda and soak the coin?

 

I dissolved the baking soda in the water and put the coin in for a few minutes.

 

The end results aren't unpleasant, but I do prefer the 'before' look. However, I don't know if my preference is due to an artefact of the photography or not.

 

go for Tull

 

It's ruined. Definitely not a good improvement. Before it looked nice with the dark patina, now it looks like a bottle cap that's been run over by a semi truck.

If I was you, put it in a sulfur envelope or use the egg trick to induce toning pronto on that coin.

 

Splotchy toning is not my favorite either. I think the gentle cleaning was an improvement on a great coin.