Welcome, I have seen a few of your posts. You will learn a lot here if you read the various threads as they come up, as well as posting your own questions. I think most new collectors go through making mistakes, paying too much,
buying fakes from that well known
auction site, etc. As we always like to say, know the coin or know the dealer. The
shop here that hosts these forums is one you can trust. I would never buy anything on that well known
auction site. Of course, there are other
good dealers out there and
good auction houses. And coins seem to be going up in
price, too, like everything else, I guess. I watched a couple of
auctions recently and couldn't believe the prices that were being paid. I didn't stand a chance. One thing I have noticed is that some of the well known
auction houses (that specialize in coins and have
good reputations) get some of what I consider ridiculous prices. It almost seems like a crap shoot. Joe's prices here on
Forum are reasonable, even if they have also gone up like everywhere else. LOL.
The thing I don't understand is your desire to restore/clean/make shiny these old coins with centuries of
patina. Most of us do not think coins treated this way look better. They look artificially
enhanced. Drastic cleaning will also reduce their value. Obviously, you can do what ever you want to do, but very few people would agree that it enhances the coins or other items. Some coins may be cleaned if they have dirt or deposits on them, there are threads here on that. I use distilled water and gentle techniques and many coins cannot be cleaned much more as they already have been. And patinas are not desirable to remove. As an example of failed restoration, I have two authentic Zulu assegais that I got over 50 years ago when I lived in South
Africa. Not ancient, but antiques. The blades were totally rusty, so I
had them chromed back in the day. Biggest mistake ever, I would give anything to have those rusty blades back again. Not only did I hurt their value, but, in retrospect, they looked better as they were. Food for thought, in any case. I will never sell them or my coins, but there is a
good chance my heirs will.
From your pictures, I think most or all your coins are attributable. There are resources on this site to assist you and, if you get stuck, post in the
Identification forum and folks here will
help you out. There are some truly amazing people here with unbelievable knowledge. There are also some great books out there. Also, just so you know, any reputable dealer will give you some idea of what you are
buying, particularly when it
comes to individual coins, but also for small lots like yours. At least they should be giving you a range on what you are getting and names of emperors if not specific references.
Regards,
Virgil