Welcome to our community dedicated to the meticulous and rewarding art of cleaning ancient Roman coins. Here, we celebrate the patience and precision it takes to restore these historic treasures to their former glory. Whether you're a seasoned numismatist or a beginner just starting with your first crusty coin, you'll find a wealth of knowledge, tips, and support from our community. Learn about the gentle art of soaking coins in distilled water, the use of tools like toothpicks and dental picks, and the importance of a steady hand and keen eye under the microscope. Join us as we delve into the layers of history, one coin at a time.
Some of these were so dirty, I was wondering if they were even really coins at all... These were the coins I learned the art of cleaning ancients on (and a few other batches of the same size/condition). Only a few were identifiable... I like to tell myself I'd do better cleaning these with the experience I gained from cleaning them, but honestly I now-a-days I probably wouldn't even bother. Which is probably why these were sold by the pound lol
How do you get them as uncleaned? Do you buy those batches on eBay? Are they authentic?
I don't buy my coins from eBay. When i was doing my initial research i leaned buying from eBay requires expertise and experience to reduce the changes of falling for a scam. There are three major dealers in uncleaned coins. They've got decent reputations and you're not going to get scammed. Though they're descriptions of the state of the coins are hyperbole and should be taken with a grain of salt and they say the coins aren't picked through but going off how true the descriptions are I don't believe it. However, you do get authentic unclean coins from them... so to play it safe go with them. The 3 dealers are dirty old coins, nero coins, and noble roman coins. The more you pay per coin the better shape they'll be, if your just starting out go with the cheapest... you'll make mistakes and its best to make a mistake with a poor quality coin than a high quality coin. I've read that several shops on vcoins sell uncleaned lots but I haven't had much success finding unclean coins on there.
Cool! THanks for the info.