Before, about 200-250 usd retail, after about 400-500 usd retail. Depending on a few variables. However, most cleans do not result in an increase of value.

How come?

Hi! Thanks for the questions. Since this is silver, no harsh tools were used. I only ever used a sharpened and clean bamboo skewer. I used a scalpel to regularly sharpen it and ensure that no dirt was on the tip, which could cause scratching. For magnification this whole video was recorded under a stereo microscope which I use for all my cleaning. Here is a blog I wrote on my microscope setup cleaningancientcoins.com/buying-a-stereo-microscope/

Thanks! I was hoping a fellow HBO Rome enjoyer would notice. I don't mind getting copyright striked into oblivion by HBO for this, these songs are great!

Based on your comment, I am assuming the denomination of this Caracalla coin is either an Antoninianus or Denarius. I am also assuming this coin is not a fouree, or a limes denarius, but a pure imperial mint coin. In either case, while heavily debased by the time of Carracalla should still be around 50% purity. That means it can still handle watchful short soaks (minutes) in 5% citric acid, with proper soaks after to neutralization the acid on the surfaces.However, iron oxides are tough and might take many attempts of this. I would hope that these soaks + gentle agitation would dislodge them, but iron oxides are some of the hardest to remove... Here is a coin talk thread below that discusses this types of deposits and how to remove them, but I would stick to safe methods like citric acid which is basically lemon juice which wont kill you or the coin, and NOT what this guy uses hydrochloric acid which is extremely dangerous chemical. www.cointalk.com/threads/proof-of-principle-removing-iron-oxides-from-silver-coins.379500/

@@admemeoriam thank you very much ill try it out. i also have some concentratated sulfuric acid stored at home but usualy it reacts quite violently with metals so ill stick to citric acid

Hi, glad you liked the video. I use a diamond dusted "pin" multi-tool with replaceable pins.

@@admemeoriam ya nice,have 1 link for it?where to buy?

@@Susan_HunTer If you search "diamond dusted pin set" on google you will see several examples from coin websites selling this tool. I won't push one link or another in attempt to get cut. If you buy this tool be very careful will it, its very harsh on coins. Would recommend microscope first if you don't already have one.

Thanks. Glad you liked it. Cleaning is a controversial thing in Ancient forums, but if done right its very great not only for eye appeal but for preservation and protection against bronze disease (ren wax after cleaning). Controversy mainly comes from those who try to take short cut and ruin coins in cleaning process. Very sad to see coins ruined by those taking short cuts or using chemicals.

I'd also high recommend a stereo microscope for cleaning if you go that route. You can get decent ones for 200 usd, only need 20-40x zoom. It improves that accuracy and quality of cleans by 1000%. I cringe looking at coins I cleaned before microscope, now looking at them under microscope. So many scratches. Live and learn.

@@admemeoriam yeah, it comes from both sides. Some people think you should never use metal tools, but they don't realize it's how most professional cleaning is done (at least AEs in priv. colls.). Personally, I never had a soft touch so I rarely used metal tools. But now I want to try again! (I still have ~20 lbs of leftover uncleaned Roman from the '00s-'10s, plus many that could use a "touch up.") If people have the talent & patience & tools to do it well, this technique is the way!

@@admemeoriam 100% good advice!

@@JacksonJacobsNumismatics ~20lbs of uncleaned. Nice! Probably a few gems in there! I'd also recommend a diamond dusted "pin" tool for cleaning. The tinier the tip of the tool, the slower and more accurately you will work under microscope. Using weight of tool alone slowly removing dirt from areas that you suspect have strong underlying patina can result in great outcomes. The main important variable is patience and knowing when to stop. Check out my full video on how absolutely slow it is to clean this with every movement being calculated. Results make it worth it!!

Hi! Great Question. Mostly it is all encrusted dirt that has been impacted over millennia. A coin like this, with a nice strong dark patina likely spent a thousand + years in a desert/dry climate field. In the before and after picture you'll see two main types of substance, a brown and light green. The brown is 100% impacted sand/dirt ONTOP on the strong patina of the coin (This is best case scenario). Unfortunately, the light green stuff is a soap like substance that appears to have stopped the formation of a patina were it lay. Wherever it was the patina was not. This required extra care to remove because I was interacting with the underlying coin.

Constantine I or maybe someone from the East, like Heraclius or Leo VI

@@theta_clips Controversially, my knowledge of Rome stops when the Western empire falls. I only know broad strokes of Eastern Emperors! Constantine certainly deserves to have his dirty laundry aired. I feel like he is misunderstood due to Christian historians painting him with rose colored glasses.

@@admemeoriam I don't really think the "bad stuff" Constantine I did is really all the bad, especially compared to the people around him. The worst thing he did was kill Licinius but honestly it was for the greater good, having more emperors weakened the empire, and the Tetrarchy was pretty much just luck and Diocletian's relentlessness. Valentinian I would be cool too

@@theta_clips Fair take. I am a enjoyer of Licinius so this is hard pill to swallow. Can't deny Constatine's lust for absolute power and mental gymnastics to find any Casus Belli to justify. Tetrarchy was doomed without Diocletian, that much is true. Stupid form of government with Roman lust for power. Valentinian would be fun. I love a man who dies in the most roman way possible- screaming at germans for being stupid.

@@admemeoriam He is LITERALLY just like me, his legacy is such a shame though