Numismatic and History Discussion Forums > Uncleaned Ancient Coin Discussion Forum

Cleaning dark tarnish/toning/horn silver? from ancient silver coin.

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DIMITRIOS L:
Greetings, I have bought an uncleaned coin lot online and found one silver denarius with dark toning/residue very similar to this photo( a coin I wanted to buy and missed). Is there any way to lighten up the details, for example hair, eyes etc, without destroying the precious toning ( I really don't like shiny coins). I ve read lemon juice applied locally  might do the trick. I post this image because I have a terrible phone camera.

Virgil H:
I see no one has responded, so I will give you my two denarii worth. This coin looks already clean. I really can't imagine much else to do with it. I would never try to change the toning it has. I realize this isn't your actual coin. Maybe try to take pictures of yours. This one looks fine to me.

Virgil

DIMITRIOS L:
Thanks mate! I know it's pretty much done , I was thinking maybe bringing out some detail with some lemon juice and q tips. Well since its not a very precious coin I could experiment a little.

Virgil H:
Let us know how it goes.

Cheers,
Virgil

Ken W2:

Generally I don’t clean silver coins.  But I cleaned this MAL XXII because of the radically different condition of reverse and obverse.  Lemon juice soaks of a few minutes at a time and some prodding of deposits with a wet bamboo skewer and a little very careful prodding with a no. 11 blade. I got the desired result but I don’t think cleaning a silver coin with lemon juice or any substance that removes toning will help highlight detail, but rather will do the opposite— tend to wash out detail. Just my two denarii.

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