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Detected Ancients, how to clean?

USAFRETWIUSAFRETWI Posts: 464 ✭✭✭
in Metal Detecting
Back in the 90's when I was stationed in Italy I got into this hobby from a guy at work. He took me to a spot where his Italian landlord knew there were coins. When we started I couldn't believe it, busted pottery everywhere. He said it was a old trading site that wasnt on the maps, looked like a regular orchard to me but had the stone walls you see everywhere in Europe. Between the three of us we found over 200 coins in theis field. Some silver mostly bronze dating from BC to around 1400 A.D. Everytime the farmer tilled it up it was like starting all over, I must have found 10 or more coins without a detector just laying on top. Once in a lifetime deal I know. Anyway, my best ancient is from 1152, has fine detail on both sides but has a lot of dirt on it.....how do I get this off? I soaked it in olive oil for 6 months and it didn't touch it. Believe it's bronze or copper, really not sure because I dont want to scrape it and it has the green petina on it. Any ideas?

Comments

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Try an acetone rinse...pure acetone. Also, a two hour soak in Neutragena (dark) shampoo may help followed by a hot running water rinse. Another possibility is inserting it into a fresh potato for a few days, then a running water rinse. A lot depends on the crud - what it is etc. Cheers, RickO
  • millenniummillennium Posts: 3,305
    The potato method does work wonders....several shots at it would probably do the trick..
    My Coin Find Videos
  • kevinstangkevinstang Posts: 1,518 ✭✭✭
    Heat it in hot olive oil , let it soak in, then dunk it quick while hot into ice water. I just started doing this last week and am real impressed with results. See my recent post about finding the 1852 large cent last month- it has before and after photos of coin. You might want to practice on a few modern corroded coppers first and get the process down.
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