PETRA. ELAGABALUS AE 20 (Cleaning for a caked coin)

[Chris C2]

Here is a piece I purchased as found. The before pictures are after soaking in DW and with a little vulpex soap.  The after photos are after 3 separate 30 minute cleanings with hand tools. after each cleaning the coin was re-soaked in distilled water for 1-3 days.

I think the coin turned out great and has wonderful details for a buried coin. I will take care of the last bit of cleaning on the obverse in the next week or so.

Before and after photos.  The last picture was the seller picture

[Lee S]

Great job.... But you should maybe read the desert patina thread above.... There is nothing wrong with your cleaning work here... But you might have left a little more "dirt" to highlight the details...
   Regardless .. good work!

[Dominic T]

Excellent cleaning job Chris. I bought sometimes from a seller in middle east (maybe the same as you ) and he often add sand to the surface of the coins. So it’s normal that the “fake” desert patina will desappear after just soaking for few days. But you clearly didn’t damage the coin you worked on. Like it has been said many times here, patience is the key for a good cleaning.

[SC]

Very nice.  Hard to find Petra coins in this nice condition.

From the photo this looks like it was genuine sandy build up and not the fake glued on sand that, as Dominic notes, is quite common.

SC

[Meepzorp]

Hi CC2,

Nice job.

As other Forum members have pointed out above, sometimes a partial desert sand patina is more attractive.

Here is my example (first coin):

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/meepzorp/rp_arabia.htm

Mine was already cleaned when I purchased it.

Meepzorp

[Canaan]

Here is mine not cleaned, as found i think an obverse die match