silver cleaning advice required

[Johnny]

This turned out to be a pleasant surprise for me

I started cleaning this coin wich was in my last uncleaned lot,  when I started hitting silver,  After some more scrapping I realised that it was silver,  and the Obverse was real solid.

 The reverse is what scares me a bit on this one.  I can strip the dirt,  and hope for the best,  but after having scraped on the top right palm branch,  it came off  and left a hole , I'm a little leary about continuing  without first talking to the experts.

 do I clean it,  and risk  having a pitted mess under the reverse ,  or leave it as is ?

any opinion would be appreciated

Here is a attribution  copied from wildwinds

the weight   is 3.8 grams  with a 22 mm diameter

Valerian I AR Antoninianus. Antioch mint, 253 AD. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG, radiate & draped bust right / VOTA ORBIS, Two victories affixing shield inscribed SC on palm-tree. RIC 294, Cohen 280.


the first pic is of the coins OBV  and REV

the next 2 are of the palm branch that fell off

any advice would be appreciated

[Johnny]

Ok,  I don't get this....any references to these being  made out of lead ?  'cause the silver is extremely  soft  and crumbly

[Mayadigger]

Ave!

Johnny, that's an excellent coin.

DW soaks and slow mechanical cleaning only.

Kevin

[Johnny]

Thanks Kevin, 

I already started removing the sand 

but why is the reverse  so soft ??,  debased silver  ?  lead    normal corrosion  for silver?

I mean it is really  soft...a pick sinks right in  with slightest pressure

[Mayadigger]

Ave!

Thanks Kevin,

I already started removing the sand

but why is the reverse so soft ??, debased silver ? lead normal corrosion for silver?

I mean it is really soft...a pick sinks right in with slightest pressure

It's too wet; let the Rx dry in bright sunshine for a few weeks, then come back.

K

[Johnny]

Thanks Kevin,  I'll do that,  and repost  with new pics  when it's dry

[casata137ec]

OK, I am confused (and not afraid to make it known publicly!! )...is the wetness thing due to low quality and pourous silver? How can it be too wet?


Chris

[Joe Sermarini]

Porous silver does seem to be softer and crumbly when saturated with water.  Odd, but true.   Or perhaps it just seems that way.

[Johnny]

this is bad.  real bad

I spend a bit of time scrapping the reverse with picks  and brushing   while  DW  soaks, (  this was before keving told me to stop )

ARRRRHGGGGGGGGHG     

I have no clue as to what is going on here,  the coin was perfectly  dry, before cleaning,  and never spend more that 2 minutes in the water  between brushing ,   but the reverse fell apart.  it is now showing signs  of copper

the reverse  is shot,  and still flaking off in chunks..The obverse   is nice and solid

seriously  debased silver/lead  or fouree 

I personally believe the fouree part

anyway,  I am in serious touble  with this coin,  and any advice  will be appreciated

[Scotvs Capitis]

I'd stop right there and call it done if I were you. Its not really going to improve much, and the risk of cleaning further may damage it more. Flip it and attribute it, there seems to be anough info to attribute. That's just me, I've ruined plenty of coins by taking them that one last step further. 

[Johnny]

Thanks Scott.

I'll fix up the obverse, as the dirt there is loose  and the silver solid,  but I have to agree,  I'll flip it after that and call it done...too bad,  it was a very nice coin before I got my paws on it

 

[Mayadigger]

Ave!

Johnny, don't be discouraged, my friend; sometimes bad things happen to good coins through no fault of our own. 

I still manage to screw up and I'm supposed to know what I'm doing. 

Kevin

[Johnny]

I'm  not discourages, LOL  and  I know this is not the last one I'm  going to wreck,  but as I said ,  it is too bad  'cause this coin awas very nice  before I got my paws on it