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 BosteenCommented Jun 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 DiehrCommented Jun 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.– MAGoldingCommented Jun 26, 2018 at 5:04
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Don't clean old coins as it ruins resale value– Astor FloridaCommented Jun 28, 2018 at 5:11
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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.
answered Jun 25, 2018 at 7:12
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No hurry to clean and bear in mind, what you think is "dirt" may well be of great value: The patina that old coins acquire is a good thing for example and removing it is a very bad move which will be evident to anyone who understands old coins. If you do not know 100 percent what you are doing, wait until you can show the item to an expert. Commented May 13 at 18:32