What ancient carved figure is in the first few frames of Hurt? ...Aaaand why do I flirt with ancient coin cleaning?!?! I'll show you why... and why I shouldn't in three new* (slightly used) coins that I tried to help on their way through eternity after I'm gone. 1st: as you can see, a lovely toned RR... with horn silver I tried to get rid of the horn silver, but feel I've now just got an shiny coin...I don't like shiny coins but I do like more details and less scratches: P. PLAUTIUS HYPSAEUS Denarius (57 BC). Rome. Obv: S C / P VPSAE. Draped bust of Leuconoë right; to left, dolphin swimming right. Rev: C VPSAE COS / PRIV / CEPIT. Jupiter, holding reins and preparing to hurl thunderbolt, driving quadriga left; below horses, scorpion right. Crawford 420/2c. Condition: very fine. Weight: 3.58 g. Diameter: 17,30 mm. Ex: Ares Next, a lady I may prefer with her makeup on. I did distilled water and scrub, then Verdi care soak n scrub. One objective was to hopefully be able to identify the countermark: Septimius Severus CAPPADOCIA. Caesarea-Eusebia. (193-211). Ae. Obv: AY KAI Λ CEΠTI CEOYHPOC. Laureate head right. Unknown CM below chin Rev: MHTPOΠO KAICAPIAC. Mount Argaeus on altar inscribed ET IΓ. Sydenham 428. 16,13 gr 27,60 mm Ex: Ares any suggestions on how to get the really tough deposits without removing the patina? Any idea what that counter mark might be? And lastly, one that I am quite happy with the results. I bought this hot little mess for 10 eur. Slightly cleaned up and I prefer her to the 68 eur one I bought from Nomos. I could've kept going but didn't want to take off to many of the years You can now see the helmet, star, t and crescent much better: Bohémond III, CRUSADERS. Antioch. 1163-1201. Denier (Silver, 18.5 mm, 0.92 g, 12 h). +BOAMVNDVS Helmeted bust of Bohémond to left, between crescent and star. Rev. +ANTIOCHIA around cross pattée, with crescent in upper right quarter. CCS 67. Metcalf, Crusades 380. Wäckerlin 142. Toned. Some striking flatness, otherwise, good very fine. Ex Ares Thoughts, Recommended cleaning methods, guesses, corrections, similar types or whatever floats your boat and doesn't rock mine
Man, @Ryro , you know me about cleaning coins. I NEVER do it... UNLESS, I really want to do a professional job. Otherwise, I just...don't...mess...with...it.
Ryro, try sodium thiosulphate (anhydrous) on the horn silver (just search for horn silver on CT to find an elaboration and explanation by me). Works brilliant.
How did you treat the horn silver? For tough corrosion on bronze coins, I use metal de-corroder, also sodium sesquicarbonate of course and mechanical removal by razor and/or wire brush, minimally as possible
I've posted several 'how-to's : https://www.cointalk.com/threads/effect-of-sodium-thiosulphate-on-horn-silver.349346/ (this one contains a cool GIF showing the effect of sodium thiosulphate on horn silver live!) https://www.cointalk.com/threads/cleaning-a-septimius-severus-denarius.350901/#post-3909382 https://www.cointalk.com/threads/what-happened-to-this-coin.346952/#post-3715319 However, I aimed to write a comprehensive mini-rewiew / guide on restoring horn silvered coins, but never really finished it.