23
Six months of brushing changed this Roman coin from a green blob
I picked up a crusty 4th century Roman coin at a local show for $10 back in March. It was just a green lump, no detail at all, so I figured I had nothing to lose. I started brushing it gently with a soft brass brush under a magnifier for like 10 minutes a week. Over the next six months, the patina slowly peeled back and revealed a faint portrait and some letters. Now I can read CONSTANTINVS AVG on the obverse and it feels like I uncovered a tiny piece of history. Has anyone else tried cleaning up old bronze coins and seen results this dramatic?
1 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In1 Comment
blake_martinez6h ago
Had a buddy who found a nasty 1700s Spanish cob in a riverbed, totally black and crusty. He soaked it in distilled water for a week then hit it with a bamboo skewer, real gentle, like picking at a scab. After a month you could see a cross and some shield detail where there was nothing. He still says it's his favorite find even though it's not worth much. Did you use any water or solution while you brushed it?
2