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Tried using a toothbrush on an ancient coin and instantly regretted it
Last weekend I found a Roman bronze coin at a local field walk and thought I'd clean it up a bit with a soft toothbrush and water. Within seconds, the green patina started flaking off and I saw the surface underneath getting scratched up. My local archaeology group leader told me that even soft brushing can destroy the original surface details that tell you the coin's age. Has anyone else accidentally damaged a find by cleaning it wrong?
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danielkim24d ago
You were told the patina ages the coin but your toothbrush also probably just made it look like a modern penny.
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sarah81824d ago
Read somewhere that old coins actually develop a dark layer called horn silver on purpose over time, not just green crud. @danielkim is onto something because scrubbing off that natural dark layer makes a rare coin look just like any shiny new penny, which destroys the whole point of patina. Collectors actually pay more for coins with that dark, untouched look because it proves theyre original and not messed with. Did you check what kind of patina yours had before you started scrubbing?
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