Should I clean? Severus Alexander Denarius

[paps]

Hello everyone. I haven't cleaned this since purchased. However, I would like to to remove the green verdigris. I'm guessing the brownish color is tarnish since the entire coin is not toned in the same color, so if that is removed as well. I guess that would be ok.

Thanks

[cmcdon0923]

Personal opinion:

If the green can be safely removed, fine.

But I would not touch the toning.  If you remove that you'll be left with an obviously cleaned bright and shiny denarius....a coin with no character.

[Dominic T]

I used to clean green spots on few denarius of mine. A little bath of ammonia did the job without altering the toning. But I do not guarantee any result and this post will autodestruct in 30 seconds.....
DT

[stevex6]

I wouldn't clean it .... ummm, I'd actually pray that the toning continues and envelopes the entire coin

[paps]

I like the toning as well - it brings out the details of the coin. But am not liking the green,  Do you scrub after an Ammonia bath?

[SC]

Personally I wouldn't touch it.  I am a physical cleaner and this stuff does not come off with physical methods.  There may be chemical methods - ammonia, lemon juice, etc. but I don't know enough about them to recommend anything.

It looks nice as it is.

SC

[paps]

Personally I wouldn't touch it. 

Before I do anything, I would need to know unequivocally that any method I choose wouldn't harm the coin. A shiny specimen is in that category as well.

[v-drome]

Hi Paps.  I also would be very hesitant to clean.  I think I can see a copper colored spot at 5h on the reverse.  Could this be an ancient plated coin (fouree)?

Regards, V-drome

[Jschulze]

I would also not clean it. Nothing is obscured so you have everything to loose if something goes wrong but really nothing to gain. Plus it took 1800-ish years to look that way, why have it loose that personality!

[SC]

That's the thing with chemical cleaning - and why I don't really do it.  With mechanical cleaning you can exercise a lot of control.  Pick a small area, control the pressure, etc.  With chemicals it tends to be all or nothing and you can never be absolutely certain of the result as the chemical composition of each coin, or part of a coin varies.

SC

[B-Chicago]

I would clean it - soak for long periods in distilled water then short baths in lemon juice - during the long soaks the red will slowly break down and it disolves in lemon juice - it may take a half dozen rounds of this over a year or so. remember to clean the container you are soaking it in each time you swap the water out and dpon't go too long in the lemon juice as those are typically lower content silver.

rinse no scrubbing

or

you could keep it as is

best of luck

[paps]

B-Chicago, I am assuming that would take away that green as well. I'll sit on this for awhile.

Thanks