Renaissance micro-crystalline wax

[expat]

I have seen others post about using the stuff. I was given an unwanted, unused tin (200ml) and wondered what types of coin it is used on and the best ways how. Many thanks to all who can give personal experiences.

 

[Heliodromus]

People use it on bronzes (tiny amount is all you need), and it protects the coin as well as enhances appearance. It's a professional grade product used by museums, not just for coins.

[Dafydd]

I use it for historical military items as does my local museum. It protects against humidity and gives a barrier from oxygen which of course stimulates oxidisation,

I should use it more on coins and will consider this. A little goes a long way but in my experience, I warm up the items on a radiator first, which minimises excesses. The British Museum uses this stuff so that's good enough for me. I wouldn't lose any sleep using this. I have a couple of coins being treated for Bronze Disease and the minute I am happy that I have achieved the best I can, I will be applying this wax. It concerns me greatly that some of our coins have survived for 2000 years , we dig them up, expose them to atmosphere and then start more deterioration that the preceding 2000 years. I am no chemist, I am an engineer and would love to be reassured that this is not the case but sometimes I wonder if collectible coins were disintegrated because of bronze disease 200 years ago because no-one considered the issue intelligently?

 

Edited September 15, 2023 by Dafydd
Typo

[Phil Anthos]

Make 100% sure all traces of bd are gone first or the wax will seal it in and it could be destroyed from the inside out.

~ Peter 

Edited September 15, 2023 by Phil Anthos

[Dafydd]

10 hours ago, Phil Anthos said:

Make 100% sure all traces of bd are gone first or the wax will seal it in and it could be destroyed from the inside out.

~ Peter 

Good point, Peter, thank you.