Coin Restoration

theboz11

Purchased this coin in this condition




Did a little careful cleaning over a weeks period with xylene and a Thorn from a Rose to prevent scratching. This was does under the 80x microscope cleaning to remove the Tar and Ash deposited on the coin in an apparent fire.



Do you agree or disagree with this kind of coin restoration.

wybrit

Lovely coin.

I'm all for using organics to clean off surfaces - it's just risky to the person using the substances if not handled carefully. I am nervous about cleaning any coin because I'm more apt to make it worse being a naturally clumsy oaf.

Usng the thorn is not a bad idea - it may still leave marks on the finish, but those probably wash away in the xylene.

theboz11

Unless you pick up a piece of debris in the tip of the thorn, it will not leave marks, a Bougenvilla(sp?) thorn works very well also, it's longer and easier to handle, and does not mark.

trozau

great results

Shipcoin

Unbeliveable!!!

farthing

Given the shape the coin was in and your skill at cleaning I agree that the cleaning was more than warranted. You took a coin that was a space filler and now it would be a wonderful addition to most collections!

oldshep

I think you did a very good job, you increased the eye appeal of that coin without any sign of obvious cleaning - wish I had your skill.
Shep

cosmicdebris

I think it came out great.

theboz11

Thanks, If I add my man-hours of labour fee to this coin , it is now worth $4000 I don't think anybody would want to make a living out of this sort of restoration unless the coin is a Big ticket one

satootoko

Hard to believe it's the same coin Boz

laurentyvan

Beautiful job- to me the coin looks lovely and original.

If I add my man-hours of labor fee-naaah, it's the fun of doing, right? Imagine the pleasure a curator takes in achieving those results (and getting paid for it).

0john0

are you using the pointy end of the thorn, or the base where you tore it off?
That looks like some great restoration, way to go.
-john

theboz11

You use the Pointy end, I tried using the other end but kept sticking myself

A binocular microscope is a very important part of this kind of restoration.

ColinCMR

impressive!

NJMark1

Great Job!!!!!! Impressive!


Mark

Stork

That is beautiful! Now that the deposits are removed are you even able to tell it was in a fire? It looks great--I saw a bit of controversy on the lightside about 'conservation' (vs. 'doctoring', and alot of heated debate) and I certainly hope no one was talking about something like this--it looks wonderful.


Cathy

sumnom

I think you did a beautiful job.

This brings up a question. I recently bought an copper coin that is in pretty rough shape already I thought about cleaning a bit. It seems the coins was once glued to something. There is a visible square patch of adhesive. I don't know what sort of adhesive this is. Any suggestions as to how to deal with it?

Stork

Acetone maybe? It seems pretty harmless to metals, but dissolves lots of other gunk (okay, so chemistry was never my strong suit obviously).

Cathy

sumnom

No gunk on this one, just goop.

sumnom

Dried goop, that is.

theboz11

Olive oil soak for an extended period of time(weeks sometimes) will remove about anything. Acetone and the slower drying xylene may melt a plastic stuck to the coin also at a faster rate, but are hazardous to one health if improperly handled. Patience will get you farther in a good restoration

MSD61

Outstanding!! I did the same to a 1822 Irish half penney that was covered in that green crud copper will get over time. I used Olive oil and lots of patients. The coin is now green crud free and back to that nice coco brown color