This coin looks more detailed in hand than it does in the scan I did, but I think you'll get the idea. The detail is actually pretty
good; the inscriptions are legible in hand. The
mint is
London, which really makes me interested in getting it cleaned up.
It was covered in soft
red mud initially, but on removing that by gently poking it with a toothpick, I wound up with this. It almost looks like the mud has stained the
patina. I've
had it in distilled water for about a month now, without it getting much better past the initial removal. Is there anything that can be done here? More soaking, or something else?
I'm worried about removing the encrustations, too. For fear of what might be under those.