Can anyone tell me what these 2 coins are ?
How can I safely clean them?
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2Can you tell us anything else about them, like where they were found? Also, it would help if you gave the dimensions.– Lars BosteenJun 25, 2018 at 5:32
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Another way to clean coins is with electrolysis; I've used it to remove decades of rust from old wrought iron. Follow the safety precautions, and do it outside, or in a very well ventilated space.– Peter DiehrJun 25, 2018 at 18:07
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How wise or desirable is it to clean old, possibly classical coins? How much cleaning, if any, is too little, how much cleaning, if any, is just enough, and how much cleaning would be too much, for the sake of the hypothetical resale value of the coins. I personally think that the coins would look much better if cleaned a lot, but I don't know how that would affect their hypothetical resale values.– MAGoldingJun 26, 2018 at 5:04
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Don't clean old coins as it ruins resale value– Astor FloridaJun 28, 2018 at 5:11
1 Answer
The first coin doesn't have much detail to go by. But the second coin looks like it might have two soldiers standing with banners. Some Roman coins have that. Here's an example of a coin with Constantine I, c 334-335:
There are a couple of pages with coin cleaning tips on the web. In short: toothpicks, toothbrushes, soap, and (distilled) water; gently, with a lot of care and patience.