expat Posted January 4, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted January 4, 2023 (edited) This coin was in a lot and is the worst of them. Would you try to remove some of the black gunk? You can see at the bottom left that it is quite thick and someone has tried, it appears, to expose more of the silver. If yes, what would be the best course of action. I have only 6 Euros in it so it doesn't matter what happens, it can't look worse than it does now. Cant even attribute it with all the legends that are missing. Gordian III/Victory Antoninianus is as close as I get. 22mm and 4.15gr Edited January 6, 2023 by expat 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtisimo Posted January 4, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted January 4, 2023 If it was me and i had the time I would give it a shot at removing it. If it helps with identification that is a plus. Making a coin uglier doesn’t ruin its cool factor for me but I know others feel differently about that. In the end if you don’t mind the risk of an uglier coin, researching the process and trying it out might actually be kinda fun. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expat Posted January 4, 2023 · Supporter Author Share Posted January 4, 2023 5 minutes ago, Curtisimo said: If it was me and i had the time I would give it a shot at removing it. If it helps with identification that is a plus. Making a coin uglier doesn’t ruin its cool factor for me but I know others feel differently about that. In the end if you don’t mind the risk of an uglier coin, researching the process and trying it out might actually be kinda fun. Great minds think alike. I actually would like to see what might be lurking underneath. It is soaking now for 24 hours in distilled water and then see what happens with tooth picks and cotton buds before I attempt anything else. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AETHER Posted January 4, 2023 · Member Share Posted January 4, 2023 Some of it does look like horn silver, which would need some chemical treatment, I seen users on CT discuss this and show before and after as well as methods. I am not sure who they are or if they have migrated here. Some results were stunning and showed much more detail and over all appeal to the coin. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanxi Posted January 4, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted January 4, 2023 The simplest chemical methods are aluminum foil/salt water at 40°C or a thiosulfate solution. But the results are mixed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotwheelsearl Posted January 5, 2023 · Member Share Posted January 5, 2023 Sodium thiosulfate is basically a miracle juice for this sort of thing. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniard Posted January 5, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted January 5, 2023 I saw the lot you purchased as I buy from the same dealer sometimes.. Maybe a couple could do with a bit of cleaning including this one as it should bring out a lot more readable detail...Good luck and maybe post some photos of the results.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expat Posted January 5, 2023 · Supporter Author Share Posted January 5, 2023 Reverse is having another bath, but looks to be very worn and corroded. Here is the obverse before and after. I will update the reverse later 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expat Posted January 6, 2023 · Supporter Author Share Posted January 6, 2023 As I suspected, very worn and corroded under whatever that thick stuff was! But there was enough detail left to attribute the coin. Regardless of the condition, I like it. Here are the before and after reverse. Attribution is therefore Gordian III AR Antoninianus. Rome 239 CE. 4.13gr, 22mm. IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG, radiate, draped bust right / P M TR P II COS P P, Victory advancing left with wreath & palm. RIC IV Gordian III,19, RSC 199, Sear 8365 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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