Cleaning Coins...really that bad...?

[Peckris 579]

In a few years, when I get over it... I'll let you know what I did to a coin I found. I'm still getting over the horror. As a metal detectorist I found all sorts of coins, in all sorts of condition. I have learnt when to leave well alone....and when to have a very delicate clean up.

I sometimes wake up in a sweat over that coin.If I could turn back time!

Yeah, but there other sides to that particular coin I found a Julia Domna denarius on an archaeological spoil tip (which meant I could keep it) which was rather grubby. I soaked it overnight in vinegar, it cleaned up a treat, and I sold it to a dealer for what was a "nice little earner" to an impoverished student in the 70s!

[azda 979]

Thanks for the replies to my enquiry. I now found another source of wisdom. Not to be sniffed at when its free

Had a look at Gothic Crowns on London Coins & MC search. Sure did prove my dealers point. A good number had been cleaned, even to my untrained eye. Went for good prices to.

Other than what's been said, what other give always are there that a coin has been cleaned? Either well or badly, and not just Gothics.

Regards

M

If left for to long in the cleaning agent, silver can come out looking flat, like it looks like a stone, a dull grey colour................Just a word on the Gothics to, IF you should decide to buy one, make sure the dealer is very reputable, and to get a 2nd opinion, i'd send it to CGS for grading and authentication, even dealers can sometimes get it wrong, and with the amount of money that you can spend on one of these you would'nt want to know 5 years down the line that it's a fake

[ski 1]

Yeah, but there other sides to that particular coin I found a Julia Domna denarius on an archaeological spoil tip (which meant I could keep it) which was rather grubby. I soaked it overnight in vinegar, it cleaned up a treat, and I sold it to a dealer for what was a "nice little earner" to an impoverished student in the 70s!

peck did you see the time team programme where they were excavating a moat at a castle in Derby, a metal detectorist was checking out the spoil pile from the moat and found a henry V noble.....it looked as minted.....fantastic. the guy was shaking with nerves.....a terrific find, apparantly he donated the coin to the local museum.

series 15 episode 6 for those who may be interested

Ski

[sound 25]

Thanks again for the pearls of wisdom. Here's the gothic crown in question. Any thoughts?

Regards

M

[Rob 3,152]

Thanks again for the pearls of wisdom. Here's the gothic crown in question. Any thoughts?

Regards

M

That's been horribly polished. Ask them to pay you to accept it.

[azda 979]

Thanks again for the pearls of wisdom. Here's the gothic crown in question. Any thoughts?

Regards

M

Yikes..............Is that from the dealer? Here's one that's not been cleaned or polished, quite a difference

[azda 979]

Yeah, but there other sides to that particular coin I found a Julia Domna denarius on an archaeological spoil tip (which meant I could keep it) which was rather grubby. I soaked it overnight in vinegar, it cleaned up a treat, and I sold it to a dealer for what was a "nice little earner" to an impoverished student in the 70s!

peck did you see the time team programme where they were excavating a moat at a castle in Derby, a metal detectorist was checking out the spoil pile from the moat and found a henry V noble.....it looked as minted.....fantastic. the guy was shaking with nerves.....a terrific find, apparantly he donated the coin to the local museum.

series 15 episode 6 for those who may be interested

Ski

I saw that and it was in the best digs programme to, it was pulled out live if i remember correctly while Tony was yapping on the camera

[numismatist 2]

Before buying the Gothic Crown look at the Edge Lettering

If its same as the top lettering in the photos, it MAYBE Genuine

If its like the bottom lettering its CERTAIN its a FAKE !!

[Coinery 1,157]

Before buying the Gothic Crown look at the Edge Lettering

If its same as the top lettering in the photos, it MAYBE Genuine

If its like the bottom lettering its CERTAIN its a FAKE !!

I so wish all these little fragments of info could be bottled together in one place for future reference. I'll remember seeing this post a year from now, but won't have a chance in hell of finding it here in a thread on cleaning coins!

Really useful pictures!

I've been copying and pasting off anything interesting re G5 and G6 as it arrives on the forum, as there so many pearls that get lost otherwise, but where do you stop?

[azda 979]

Before buying the Gothic Crown look at the Edge Lettering

If its same as the top lettering in the photos, it MAYBE Genuine

If its like the bottom lettering its CERTAIN its a FAKE !!

I so wish all these little fragments of info could be bottled together in one place for future reference. I'll remember seeing this post a year from now, but won't have a chance in hell of finding it here in a thread on cleaning coins!

Really useful pictures!

I've been copying and pasting off anything interesting re G5 and G6 as it arrives on the forum, as there so many pearls that get lost otherwise, but where do you stop?

Best to copy and paste the info into your own document Stuart, including the pictures of the edge lettering above so you can look back on it. It's the same with the Northumberland Shillings, many many fakes, but i'm sending the one i just got off to CGS, i'd rather sell it with their label of authenticity.

Nice website btw

[Peckris 579]

Yeah, but there other sides to that particular coin I found a Julia Domna denarius on an archaeological spoil tip (which meant I could keep it) which was rather grubby. I soaked it overnight in vinegar, it cleaned up a treat, and I sold it to a dealer for what was a "nice little earner" to an impoverished student in the 70s!

peck did you see the time team programme where they were excavating a moat at a castle in Derby, a metal detectorist was checking out the spoil pile from the moat and found a henry V noble.....it looked as minted.....fantastic. the guy was shaking with nerves.....a terrific find, apparantly he donated the coin to the local museum.

series 15 episode 6 for those who may be interested

I didn't see that - but I can understand the excitement! (I'm afraid as an impoverished student, the thought of donation to a museum just wasn't a starter - not sure Corinium Museum would have been interested in a Julia Domna denarius anyway...)

Thanks again for the pearls of wisdom. Here's the gothic crown in question. Any thoughts?

Regards

M

That's been horribly polished. Ask them to pay you to accept it.

Yeah - looking at the very obvious reflection that runs from halfway across, it must have been polished quite severely. That treatment would devalue it by 66% at least (much more if it was a more common coin).

[Coinery 1,157]

Before buying the Gothic Crown look at the Edge Lettering

If its same as the top lettering in the photos, it MAYBE Genuine

If its like the bottom lettering its CERTAIN its a FAKE !!

I so wish all these little fragments of info could be bottled together in one place for future reference. I'll remember seeing this post a year from now, but won't have a chance in hell of finding it here in a thread on cleaning coins!

Really useful pictures!

I've been copying and pasting off anything interesting re G5 and G6 as it arrives on the forum, as there so many pearls that get lost otherwise, but where do you stop?

Nice website btw

You are SO bad Mr Dundee! Are you policing the entire 'net?

I've got a big post coming up, could benefit the bigger 'proper' eBay sellers on here who are gutted with the fees(the one's I know about, at least)...you, Declan, Paulus, etc.!

Please let me start the thread first!