It might be premature but I have a new to me technique for cleaning
ancient coins and can be used in conjunction with other techniques that people use, with the exception of oiled coins. Maybe people are already using this technique and haven't mentioned it anywhere, who knows.
I can't take any new photos right now because my monitor on my backup PC with the CF digital camera card reader went dead so soon I'm going to get a decent CF USB card reader. Until then I can't shoot photos.
I came up with this idea when I was considering using a spray can of air, but it's not a
good idea because of the following reasons.
A air can has a lot of chemicals, has a lot of moisture and is very expensive
buying cans. I used it anyways on one coin, used a entire can. The results were that it blew off all loose dirt that I
had worked up, seemed like it was a little faster at getting a coin clean. Then I looked around for a low powered air compressor and came up with this.
It's called a Datavac, but is not a vacuum, it is a duster or blower mostly designed to blow out PCs and keyboards. It has a micro cleaning tool attachment as well.
https://www.metrovacworld.com/DataVac_Electric_Duster-ED500/overviewYou can get them cheaper than $100 but they
still ain't
cheap.
I've only
had it a few weeks but I've noticed some things already.
Dry cleaning techniques.
I blow the coin off dry, use a cotton swab and loosen up the dirt and scrub vigorously if I have to. Blow the coin off frequently. Use toothpicks and metal
tools when needed. You only need to loosen up the dirt and then blow and use cotton swabs again. Sometimes I use a nylon brush as usual.
In combination with distilled water.
You can go through the dry cleaning technique and then wash the coin off with distilled water. I use cotton swabs when I'm washing a coin.
After a coin has soaked in distilled water for a long time. You can wipe the coin off and dry with a soft cloth and then use the blower to get the rest of the water off and a lot of moisture. Let the coin set for about 10 minutes and then blow it off again. This helps to prevent
bronze disease but I don't know completely because I have not
had this blower for long.
Here is a coin photo as an attachment that I removed the hard layer of mud off with the blower. I have since made more progress on the coin but I have not shot a photo yet of this
Valentinian I Victory advancing left
Siscia mint.
I'd like to know what you guys think. I have discussed it with a few people who think the idea has
merit but we shall see. Some believe it may have no effect on a coin. But I think it has results and it is
still slow. This is not the magic cleaner that people have been looking for but it helps.
