Ancient Coins: Taking care of your Bronze Coins

[@wollin20]

Always a thrill when a new video of you appears ! Thank you so much !

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Thanks for the kind words! Im very glad you like the content :)

[@wollin20]

@@ClassicalNumismatics Well, I was not trying to flatter you : you simply deserved my comments. You might well not receive the exact number of views as some more viral videos, yet I am quite sure that we, the very limited community of ancient coins nerds here present, AKA numismatists, appreciate the quality of you videos, in every aspects (text, image, voice) !

[@goblinempress8390]

Most of my coins are bronze since I don't have much money right now. They are still beautiful and I would recommend to anyone who likes ancient coins! I keep mine in a box for 2x2s in flips with a pack of silica.

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Sounds like you´ve got your storage conditions on point, good job!

[@larryfaulkner5705]

Make sure the flips are PVC free to avoid serious damage.

[@Orionstar528]

Excellent video as always! As someone who really tends to the precious metal coins, you convinced me to check more carefully the bronze coins, you have some truly beautiful bronze specimens! :)

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Thanks! They are worth having a look, I myself am guilty of generally preferring silver or billon coins, but I always catch myself picking up one or two bronze beauties every now and then :)

[@aka99]

@@ClassicalNumismatics same me

[@isabelcrb]

Thank you for your videos. Your channel is my favorite. I have watched all your videos and waiting for more! keep doing please!

[@compatriot852]

Black is probably the most beautiful patina in my opinion. My first ever ancient was a stunning black Constantine. It really makes the details pop out

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

I love jet-black patinas as well. They tend to be quite thick and durable, apart from the obvious striking visual effect of the color

[@sandiepaul9421]

I have a small collection of black silver coins that are outstanding.

[@BopWalk]

This is why its a good idea to use rennesaince wax on bronze coins. This will protect them from oxidation and even moisture.

[@maxtravers1314]

That black coin is absolutely breathtaking… I think it’s almost more beautiful

[@siisjwj7647]

Bronze is so under appreciated in general from US coins to Greek. I love the wide variety of patinas, the only thing thats something to desire is that copper in general is too dependent on lighting.

[@flaccidvs]

Well said! Amazing video! It would be interesting to see a similar video regarding silver coins as well!

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

I cover silver on my "Storage and Handling" videos. Silver is very stable and there´s nothing really similar to bronze disease that poses a threat to a silver coin. It can tone, and thats pretty much it. The same principles apply! Clean, dry hands, a nice chemically stable container, dry environment and try to hold it by the edges :)

[@flaccidvs]

@@ClassicalNumismatics oh my I mustve missed that one! Thank you for the reference and advice!

[@bvds2007]

I started collecting Roman coins as a kid, with pretty much zero purchasing power. So, problematic coins were the only ones I could hope to afford, if I was lucky. I got much satisfaction from them, just as well.

[@jomon723]

Nice info...Thanks

[@jackdaniels2586]

lovely video! great info on bronze disease! do remember that bronze disease is that the powder is what spreads the disease, so it is always best to keep the coin isolated from your coins + other places you store/put coin, like trays like how you did in the video! when examining a coin with bronze disease, if you're holding it over your tray, that powder falls on that tray, and whenever you put another coin on that spot, it is infected. bronze disease is even more contagious than pvc, so it could theoretically spread from coin to coin if not careful. but i appreciate that you pointed out the importance of storing coins in seperate flips...really important info. cheers!

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

I have cleaned and dried the tray thoroughly after the filming :) Thanks for your comment!

[@alvarofranco7938]

Hi Leo, in case of a coin having bronze disease, is cleaning it with mechanical methods and covering it with renaissance wax effective (not having the problem advance) or not really useful? Thanks!

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

In theory, cleaning a coin of all bronze disease, drying it very well (as in putting it in an oven or somewhere very warm and dry) and then covering it with wax could be enough to stop bronze disease. The problem lays in knowing if the spread of the "cancer" has stopped or not. There are some treatment options with Sodium Sesquicarbonate, but Im not an expert on conservation.

[@bretnielsen5502]

I just finished a yellow bronze dupondus of Julia Mamaea I am so proud of the way it turned out I mounted and famed it for my office wall. The detail truly a work of art from easily done with the first few strikes of the dies.

[@leonardolatini1450]

My Roman collection is a mix of denominations and I have many bronze: quadrants ,Ae ,Dupondius ,Sestertii and Follis. All my coins are kept in capsules and storage on storages display with near a silica bag. I never touched or removed the patina on it for bronze or silver because I want to conserve and protect them in the status I purchased.

[@varlamdadiani5976]

Great video! Can I store silver and bronze coins together in box like yours? Or should I keep them separate

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Keep them separated, they can still get scratched :)

[@aurel12345]

Excellent video! Thank you. Do you know what causes silver coins to develop a dark or "cabinet" tone. I possess coins with presumably high silver content (Domitian/Antoninus denarii) with this toning.

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Its a very common reaction of silver! From what I´ve seen, its generally a reaction with sulphur, which is pretty common in the atmosphere in general and particularly so inside coin cabinets made out of wood. It can also happen on low silver content coins as well, I´ve recently purchased a coin with just a silvering layer on top and the toning is pretty wild. All of that being said, dont worry about the normal toning of a coin, the reaction is only really happening at the surface, and it does not affect nor "decay" the silver in any way.

[@aurel12345]

@@ClassicalNumismatics oh so that's why it is called old cabinet tone lol. I figured that it was a common colour for old cabinets haha. Thank you

[@bobtimster62]

As a newbie to this hobby, I have learned a great deal about collecting ancient coins just from watching your videos. Let me ask a question regarding bronze disease that you mentioned in this video. I have a bronze coin (Alexander lifetime issue, which is why I bought it), which looks like it has a nice patina, but there is a tiny green spot on the obverse of the coin. Does that mean I'm headed for big trouble down the line with this coin?

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Not necessarily! Copper reactions are most of the time green, but that doesnt mean it MUST be bronze disease. Get a wooden toothpick and gently poke/scrape at the "green stuff", if it easily flakes off, like chalk, thats BD, and you must take a look for treatment options. If it is very hard and doesnt flake off, its basically a copper deposit, and it shouldnt be problematic.

[@bobtimster62]

@@ClassicalNumismatics I tried what you said and I think it may not look good. I bought the coin from a reputable seller, at least according to another seller whom I trust. The spot was advertised as a carbon spot.

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

@@bobtimster62 I have never heard anything such as a "Carbon spot", but I also dont know and dont want to bash the dealer. If it is something similar to bronze disease, I´d personally ask for a refund.

[@bobtimster62]

@@ClassicalNumismatics I think it's probably too late for a refund. I bought the coins months ago.

[@briank7936]

How can you tell what green on a bronze coin is bronze disease and what is not? I am looking at a bronze coin of Caligula and it has a lot of green on it. I am not sure if it is inert or needs to be dealt with. The coin is in a NGC holder, so I dont know if that makes a difference or not.

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Bronze disease is bright green, and very crumbly. If you gently scratch it with a toothpick and a powder starts coming off, thats BD. If its rock-hard, its just some cupric incrustations.

[@Haveafoodtime]

Question if you're still reviewing comments. Are you against using a pH neutral/acid free microcrystalline wax?

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

microcrystaline wax is a good option as well, although I particularly dont like the final texture on the surfaces too much

[@Haveafoodtime]

@@ClassicalNumismatics Thanks mate, appreciate the advice!

[@CaStW]

Thanks for the info!👍New subs here!

[@ericcasagrande]

What is the coin at 05:22 ? I think I can make out "Caesar" on it.

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Its an As struck in Italica, next to modern-day Seville. You are right :) Its a coin struck under Emperor Tiberius, what you read is the initial part of the legends: TI CAESAR: "Tiberius Caesar"

[@nerynumismatica]

Olá Leo! Eu tenho uma duvida, de que, se moedas que foram encontradas no mar ou em áreas costeiras, elas teriam algum problema, caso estivesse com algumas dessas pequenas manchas verdes, ou isso é algo natural e que não há problema? Já tentei retirá-las suavemente com um palito de madeira, porém não saiu. Neste caso, isso poderia se agravar? Obrigado

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

De uma olhada no canal Numischannel de Damian Salgado. Ha um video dedicado a "doenca do bronze", como identifica-la e trata-la.

[@nerynumismatica]

@@ClassicalNumismatics Ok obrigado

[@decadesofhistory3575]

So i have one of these, with a green petina. Details are still there. Do you recomend cleaning it? Im not sure if i should, and if it is the bronze disease.

[@rekso1126]

Do not clean it. By removing the patina you will also strip away the design on the coin as well. As he said the patina has become part of your coin and shouldn’t be removed

[@rekso1126]

I also have a coin with a green patina but it does not have bronze disease

[@luisgomes2423]

Portuguese coin 😊.

[@antonioeduardoruette2444]

How do you clean? In terms of removing "new" dust, not the patina... Simple brush?

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Yes, an acetone bath is also a good idea

[@antonioeduardoruette2444]

@@ClassicalNumismatics really? coundt accetone react with bronze or silver?

[@aka99]

Okay, i can show a photo of a seterz? i think my coins got a coin disease.....but i am not sure. After looking throough the links you posted, i am now sure my bronze coin has disease. Damn. Anyway, thanks for explaning!

[@Mustafa1998]

mfw ruining patina of 1700 years old coin

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

smh!

[@DieLuftwaffel]

I ordered a lot of mixed uncleaned ancient coins of mixed (apparently mostly low) quality and they were all shipped in little bags intermixed with eachother. I would say that even through all the mineral buildup and dirt on the surface that at least 10-20% look like they have bronze disease. Are all my coins now guaranteed to get it since they were intermingled? Are all light-green colors on coins necessarily bronze disease or sometimes just another type of mineralization?

[@DieLuftwaffel]

Also, can you tell me what the official name is for the caked on mineralized armor-like layer on some uncleaned coins is called? I mean the stuff that isnt just dirt you can remove with a toothpick. Most of My coins are totally shielded in it so thick I have no idea of what if any design is under it and I've been wanting to know what this layer is called for a while. Also curious if it os made partly of minerals from the coin or purely from the dirt around it. Thanks!

[@USAR8888]

This might be a stupid question but as a beginner, is there a certain type of distilled water to use for cleaning? I bought a pack of distilled water bottles from the store and being stupid didn't see in the fine print that it is "antioxidant water with electrolytes for taste", basically like offbrand Smart water. Is that ok to use to soak them in or will the added electrolytes ruin the process?

[@nathanielscreativecollecti6392]

You want simple and clean distilled water. No added anything. Distilled water is chemically inert and won't damage a coin. It is the main tool for cleaning coins. For more information, go check out noble roman coins, they have a guide on cleaning coins.

[@haltersweb]

You can get distilled water at a grocery store, where jugs of bottled water is sold. It usually comes in the same type of jug that milk comes in. It is used in steam irons, to keep them from corroding. It's very inexpensive.

[@numismatik]

I have one of those coins with bad green corrosion I tried cleaning it but made things worse. 😒

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Sometimes it the problem is indeed bad :/ This is the kind of situation where you cant really escape it, and need to use Sesquicarbonate or other stronger methods

[@HKshuvo905]

Same here..

[@benjaminrennicke]

The patina is not on the coin, it is the coin

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

To a sense, you are right.

[@benjaminrennicke]

@@ClassicalNumismatics It was no correction, its just a nice thing to keep in mind for beginners.

[@syedkhayamalishah2145]

I have many ancient currency and many other things

[@theaverageportugues4200]

What és português?