My first attempt at cleaning roman coins was with the point of one of those dental floss-picks, which I anticipated would be a safe hardness, but I soon realized that I needed a microscope and something with a finer point to avoid just wearing away the high points of the softer than expected patina. With a microscope I started using an old sewing needle and slowly abrading down the mineralized "dirt" and stopping at the black patina.
@@eric.1948 I found that I needed something very stiff and very pointy to precisely descale the surfaces without hurting the details. A sewing needle is really the only tool I've been satisfied with. Under a microscope it doesn't scratch if I'm careful, and it allows really precise control. A lot of these youtubes describe the process as "moving dirt aside", but that hasn't been my experience. Every coin I've done had mineralized scale stuck hard on the surface patina, and distilled water does not soften it at all. It takes finely controlled force to flake the crystals off with precision.
As a chemist I can tell you that it does not make any difference, if you use normal water or demineralized water. You dissolve so many ions from the dirt and the coin‘s surface so that the demin. water becomes quickly a “normal“ water. As long as the patina of the coin stays intact, the surface should be protected from oxidation. After cleaning I usually apply a wax to make the surface shiny and to conserve the coin.
Nick this is a long shot but I figured its worth an effort. There is an animated sci-fi show on Netflix called Scavengers Reign that is one of the coolest shows ever made but it has very little chance of getting a second season. If possible could you slip the crew a suggestion to react to it on an animators react, it would probably be easy to get the creator on to talk about it as well.
Good to see another cleaning video. 🙏 Thanks. The thorn does not seem to weaken due to the moisture? I have used grill sticks of wood and they work when dry only. Can you sharpen the thorn with fine sand paper? I will pick some. They are common here in Sweden 🇸🇪. Have a nice day! 🙏
Thank you! The moisture didn't seem to affect the thorn much, until the outer layer was breached and then it lost structural integrity at a quicker pace. It's necessary to switch out your cleaning thorn before this happens to maximize efficiency. I fear sandpaper would just accelerate the process of degradation.
You might consider using porcupine quills or feather quills as well. They will be much stronger and give you a variety of point sizes. The feather quills would be large cleaning and the porcupine would be for detail. Editing this to add: I feel like the thorns may add resins/tannins into the patina
There are some good cleaning tools coming onto the market these days, but this looks definately like a plus, and if you can find the, --for free! Thanks!
¿Esas son espinas de acacia?. Pues aqui en Toletum, Hispania hay un montón, una este verano me atravesó la zapatilla y se me clavó en el dedo. La usaré para limpiar mis monedas, gracias.
Todo ese ttrabajo te lo puedes aorrar si metes la moneda en aceite de oliva y lo dejas barias semanas o mas y despues esa porqueria sale sin tener que restregar y no corres el riesgo de cargarte la patina
Hello! new viewer and subscriber here! These videos are relaxing. Any chance you could share where you can buy these thorns from? And, any additional recommended cleaning accessories? There is so much out there....
New viewer live the videos! Just curious if you could use something like a jewelry cleaner where it vibrates the water. Are cleaning solutions bad for the coin?
Love your videos i get so happy every time you upload
Cheers! Thanks for watching!
My first attempt at cleaning roman coins was with the point of one of those dental floss-picks, which I anticipated would be a safe hardness, but I soon realized that I needed a microscope and something with a finer point to avoid just wearing away the high points of the softer than expected patina. With a microscope I started using an old sewing needle and slowly abrading down the mineralized "dirt" and stopping at the black patina.
Haha a relatable account!
What about a plastic toothpick. With the feather edges?
@@eric.1948 I found that I needed something very stiff and very pointy to precisely descale the surfaces without hurting the details. A sewing needle is really the only tool I've been satisfied with. Under a microscope it doesn't scratch if I'm careful, and it allows really precise control. A lot of these youtubes describe the process as "moving dirt aside", but that hasn't been my experience. Every coin I've done had mineralized scale stuck hard on the surface patina, and distilled water does not soften it at all. It takes finely controlled force to flake the crystals off with precision.
Thanks for the tip. I’ve been using electrolysis to clean my romans. Will have a go at your technique.
It's not quite ASMR but it's just as calming. Keep up the great work!
Thank you! Will do!
Im a new viewer, however, i love what you do!! Please keep going, your educative channel is amazing to listen to :)
Thank you so much!
🤗 hello
Great to see another video!
Welcome back!
Thank you for sharing a lovely way to preserve our history
Glad you enjoyed it!
Does it make any difference if you use distilled water versus normal water? To avoid the thing oxidizing after the surface becomes exposed to the air
Good question! I always use distilled water, as is recommended.
As a chemist I can tell you that it does not make any difference, if you use normal water or demineralized water. You dissolve so many ions from the dirt and the coin‘s surface so that the demin. water becomes quickly a “normal“ water. As long as the patina of the coin stays intact, the surface should be protected from oxidation. After cleaning I usually apply a wax to make the surface shiny and to conserve the coin.
Nick this is a long shot but I figured its worth an effort. There is an animated sci-fi show on Netflix called Scavengers Reign that is one of the coolest shows ever made but it has very little chance of getting a second season. If possible could you slip the crew a suggestion to react to it on an animators react, it would probably be easy to get the creator on to talk about it as well.
Where do you get these coins from?
Good to see another cleaning video. 🙏 Thanks.
The thorn does not seem to weaken due to the moisture?
I have used grill sticks of wood and they work when dry only.
Can you sharpen the thorn with fine sand paper?
I will pick some.
They are common here in Sweden 🇸🇪.
Have a nice day! 🙏
Thank you! The moisture didn't seem to affect the thorn much, until the outer layer was breached and then it lost structural integrity at a quicker pace. It's necessary to switch out your cleaning thorn before this happens to maximize efficiency. I fear sandpaper would just accelerate the process of degradation.
You might consider using porcupine quills or feather quills as well. They will be much stronger and give you a variety of point sizes. The feather quills would be large cleaning and the porcupine would be for detail.
Editing this to add: I feel like the thorns may add resins/tannins into the patina
Great idea!
Good job
Thanks!
2022 June 27? Was the camera date set wrong or was this a very old clip?
yes
Yes? @@historyathome
There are some good cleaning tools coming onto the market these days, but this looks definately like a plus, and if you can find the, --for free! Thanks!
Great point!
@@historyathome wOW, YOU'RE SHARP!
¿Esas son espinas de acacia?.
Pues aqui en Toletum, Hispania hay un montón, una este verano me atravesó la zapatilla y se me clavó en el dedo.
La usaré para limpiar mis monedas, gracias.
That thorn is so hard!
I was quite surprised how well it held up!
That coin came out great
Thank you!
Some good silvering left on there!
Im not seeing it!
Todo ese ttrabajo te lo puedes aorrar si metes la moneda en aceite de oliva y lo dejas barias semanas o mas y despues esa porqueria sale sin tener que restregar y no corres el riesgo de cargarte la patina
Looking peachy!
Hello! new viewer and subscriber here! These videos are relaxing. Any chance you could share where you can buy these thorns from? And, any additional recommended cleaning accessories? There is so much out there....
Thanks for watching! I'm going to make a video about my tools and cleaning setup soon.
i have the same one but with cyzicus mint
very cool!
Scratch card stone 😊
Use pill form magnesium to clean your coins. Magnesium will clean the coins to perfection!
na kakav magnezij misliš?
New viewer live the videos! Just curious if you could use something like a jewelry cleaner where it vibrates the water. Are cleaning solutions bad for the coin?
Cold u use laser to clean them? Would it work and save you time!
Possibly, but I lack the proper equipment for that method.
What would happen if you put one of those coins in an ultrasonic cleaner bath?
It normally destroys the patina, unless done by professionals.
Let's challenge you to clean a coin with a regular toothpick.
Good idea!
Hello! Please link your tools or do a video on them. Also please put a battery in your fire alarm for your safety and our ears lol.
Great suggestion! lol sorry about that, the beep belongs to a building next to mine, and after months i've just tuned it out completely.
Stone island
Fossil stone do not grow again
Fossil coin
Bin