What is wrong with my Honorious

[mikepellerin]

This coin was bought many years ago, and had been harshly cleaned. It has been developing the green streaks as you can see. I don't really know what BD looks like first hand, but this doesn't look like any BD I've seen posted around here.

It's not fuzzy, and after soaking in Distilled water, then scrubbing, nothing more happened than some old dirt came off.

If anyone can help, thanks.

  Mike 

[moonmoth]

Hi -

How have you been storing it?  I once had some bronze coins in PVC that developed green crusts, not BD, probably verdigris.   Since then I store everything in archival flips.

Bill

[mikepellerin]

Hi -

How have you been storing it?  I once had some bronze coins in PVC that developed green crusts, not BD, probably verdigris.   Since then I store everything in archival flips.

Bill

I had it in what I thought was a Safe Flip, but I guess it wasn't. I'm moving everything to them now (gotta buy a new batch from FORVM). It's been in that old flip for nearly 8 years. At first I thought it was retoning after it had been cleaned, but it's lookin' ugly.

Anybody have any ideas as to what I can do?

Thanks again...

  Mike 

[Aamil Qureshi]

If it's verdigris, does anyone know what to do about it? I have a Gallienus Antoninianus that has similar green encrustations as the Honorius coin.
Aamil.

[Robert_Brenchley]

You can sometimes get rid of them by boiling in washing soda and brushing. I've had more siccess with silver than bronze; I don't like using chemicals on bronze because it damages the patina. But I don't mind silver as overcleaned coins will acquire a decent toning in quite a short time.

[moonmoth]

In fact I did almost exactly the same - but I simmered the coins in a mixture of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate.  Just in case there was some BD involved somewhere .. It got rid of the verdigris, but also changed the colour of the patina.  I sealed the coins with renaissance wax after that, though I doubt if that was strictly necessary and I don't usually do it.

Bill

[Aamil Qureshi]

Thanks guys! I'll let you know how it all turns out!
Aamil

[Metrodorus]

So far, everything's fine with my Gallienus. I'm surprised that the blackish patina remained though. However, some silvering has shown up but I don't want it ruined. Should I just leave it be and give it one day's soaking in distilled water?
Aamil.

[Metrodorus]

Wicked cool Honorius, BTW.
-Aamil