1893 RUSSIAN RUBLE- ARE THEY REALLY THAT SCARCE
Verno
Posts: 327 ✭✭✭
As I mentioned, going through interesting lot of world coins and came across this one...super original crusty with nice mirrored surfaces and well struck...slight scratch in field , maybe from 50 years ago when removed from 2 by 2 and place in envelope..
Anyhow, cant find much pricing data on these, and what i do see is 4 figures.....thoughts??? Coin is nicer in hand...conservation? Thanks! RJ
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Just leave it as is. So far as pricing goes you will need to find recent completed sales that appear to be legitimate. Forget about catalog values or buy-it-now retail offers. Next, ask yourself just how much demand there is going to be in the current economic situation and place a realistic valuation on it yourself.
I would submit this one. And the end result will not likely set the numismatic world on fire but it helps make a coin that has a following far more liquid. Depending on the in hand reflectivity, seems the floor is 45 and I see 50 or higher as a reasonable possibility. Do not attempt conservation as there is significant downside in terms of detracting from what this coin has to offer. It is not rare but many collectors of Russian coins would really like to own an example of this type such as yours. Nice find... Congrats
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
I have to echo what has already been written about conservation. The surfaces look like they are "burnt" (I don't literally mean in a fire) or etched underneath.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Yeah, that deep, crusty patina is not to be messed with. Nothing good will come of it.
Not 4 figures in this grade (I agree... XF+ to AU, but not everyone's thing with that dark toning). Solidly 3 figures, though!
Always nice when stuff like this pops out of old collections instead of, like, George V pennies in a solid VG to Fine. LOL, or rough cob maravedis! Didn't realize that was you also
.
Thanks to all, I think I will send it in...I think at least AU...maybe better. Toning is dark, but not ugly IMO....
I think you can improve that coin with acetone myself.
Agreed, any special way you would apply?
I would gently roll an acetone soaked Q-Tip over it multiple times(use a new clean one each time) until nothing else comes off.
Now, mind you acetone is as far as I go (okay Xylene on occasion) as it is not going to affect the coin, just acts as a solvent for contaminants. I'm no chemist, don't indulge in dipping, etc. No cleaning, no beauty treatments, but I will wash a coin
. So that said, I do it a little differently (and I would point out that @amwldcoin has more time in this pursuit than I do, and has a thing for the, IIRC, bust halves that are AU-50---did I get that right amwldcoin?). So my way is just an alternative.
Read up on all the precautions--well ventilated area, it's highly flammable, and watch your source. Many threads on this here and on CT to make sure you do it properly.
In any case, I use a glass/ceramic container and pour in enough to cover the coin and let it sit. Sometimes for hours.
Some people report days. Let the solvent do it's thing.
I have some new jars (like those little jars of el cheapo 'caviar' in the grocery store) with lids to screw on. Or shot glasses which aren't flat so more surface area is exposed at once, or even little ceramic bowls. These I place a plate over. You don't want the acetone evaporating and you don't want the fumes.
Agitation, a gentle q-tip, or even a thorn if there are heavy deposits can remove loosened up gunk. For thorn work type activity I'll put the coin/container under my camera and use my laptop screen as it's delicate. It's a little odd looking at a screen off to the side and using your hands, like laproscopic surgery--which maybe you don't do
Now, I have done the thorn thing rarely--on modeling clay presumably.
After that a thorough washing with preferably distilled water. If something is really gross it'll get more than one acetone bath. With a swap out. The water is very important as you don't want stuff redepositing.
The idea is to remove contaminants that are affected by acetone. Water, acetone, and xylene are good solvents. Anything more than that, if the coin has any value, then I am going to send it to the conservation folks. I want surface crap removed.
I think you will not get perfection, but certainly would expect some improvement - there looks to be some luster and very little rare. It may well make the "55" grade or so after mild solvent.
Xylene is quite nasty to the liver, etc. and will not show immediate effects - SKIP...
Mild soap and water using FINGERS under irrigation from faucet, and then liberally rinse, then tamp dry.
Either acetone OR rubbing alcohol next. I tamp the surface with a soaked high nap cotton towel and then liberally rinse and then tamp dry. If that looks like it is making progress, then the same "tamping" with a cotton Q-tip that is first really soaked in the acetone or alcohol & then rinse as above.
Try to hold back IMO on the Jeweluster, etc. as this tends to give an unnatural appearance. The earlier techniques will not alter the metal surface of the coin, but these dips will..
Well, just Love coins, period.
In my experience the use coin dips on pieces with toning that dark will yield poor results.
Thanks to all for the cleaning tips...was thinking more along the lines of professional conservation...
Other than an acetone 'wash' that is probably the best idea. I should have also mentioned xylene is not to be trifled with (I've used it on a couple bronze medals where acetone was debatable, which is an entirely different discussion).
And, if you do use soap and water, use soap! I posted an old thread where I had that bright idea but didn't stop to actually think...and used Soft Soap. Interesting result and THEN I went and read the ingredients...don't do what I did.
Here is that thread. The dumb part comes near the end, but hey, at least I documented it
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/982188/what-is-this-white-gunk-after-pictures-added-and-dont-do-stupid-stuff#latest
Thanks stork! RJ