Hi, I have a couple of ancient coins they are really dirty can anybody help identify them. Is there any way I can clean them without damaging them? Thanks
Fun. I would love to 'tidy' them. I certainly would not wet them. I can give you more ideas about how to 'tidy' your coins but i would recommend that you do not do anything more at this point than this: get a baby toothbrush - (not a metal brush - not an adult hard toothbrush) - and then gently in circular soft strokes that end off the coin, give the coins the first phase of tidying. I would say that about 10 strokes for each coin is enough for the first side. You don't want to heat up the coin in your hand or by stroking it with a brush. Once you give a side of a coin about 10 strokes, sit it down and do one side of the next coin. When you finish all 5 coins then go back to the first and do the 'other' side of that coin and so forth. When you finish, then you are ready to photograph them and see what differences you notice. Then if you see progress, you may repeat that process. Let us see your progress. Will be interesting. I would photograph each of the coins separately and after each stage of tidying, photograph the coin again and identify the photograph so that you know after which stage of tidying that photograph was taken. I would put each coin in a separate envelope on which I would note exactly what has been done to each coin, the date and anything else interesting especially as to possible attribution ideas. I am thinking they are Roman. Where'd you happen to get em? Can you take a photograph of the 'other' sides of the coins? And position them so that they match up with how you have them laid out here. In other words, so that we know which is the other side to which coin shown here? and, Welcome to CoinTalk. Some of our expert ancient coin collectors should come by and probably, just from what you are showing, will be able to give you some ideas. I have some ideas but will wait for those more knowledgeable than I.
Please also post a pic of the other sides if you want the most information possible. 1. ? 2. GLORIA EXERCITVS - one standard (topped by chi-rho!) w/ soldiers - Constans, Constantius II or Constantine II (maybe also Delmatius?) 335ish-340 (guess on the dates..) - Maybe Siscia mint, can see a “__SIS” bottom reverse. 3. FEL TEMP REPARATIO Fallen horseman coin - Constantius II, Constantius Gallus or Julian II - mid 350s 4. ? 5. SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE - Victory with wreath - Probably Valens or Valentinian I - late 360s to early 370s
Going to need a bit more cleaning on the obverses but... 2. I’m pretty sure now is Constans... the legend would be DN CONSTANS PF AVG. GLORIA EXERCITVS - one standard (topped by chi-rho!) w/ soldiers - 335ish-340 (guess on the dates..) - Maybe Siscia mint, can see a “__SIS” bottom reverse. 4. Pretty sure now is Constantius II as on Gallus or Julian fallen horseman coins... the obverse figure does not wear a diadem as I think you can see here. Legend most likely DN CONSTANTIVS PF AVG FEL TEMP REPARATIO Fallen horseman - mid 350s
They remind me of some of the uncleaned ancient coins that I used to get from Spain. They can be notoriously difficult to clean.
