Ave!

A few weeks ago, we received an English copper coin, George/Britannia, dated 1747, from Drew for cleaning/restoration.

The 1st photo is as received - a very thin and extremely fragile green patina, edges crumbling on both sides.
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Coins like these are difficult to clean, due to the dirt vs patina: even using a bamboo skewer or a dried rose thorn may be too harsh. Even soaking in distilled water is not a good idea.

We suggest that you clean similar patina coins dry...sort of; more soaking in DW never really helps. In the case of Drew's coin, I only used SpitnPolish and a felt bur in a pin vice. Once the dirt was removed there was nothing else to improve the coin.

As seen in the 2nd after photo, the reverse has issues. The yellowish latter half of this coin is NOT patina, but rather a oxidized bubble of patina that never set. Even light brushing with the felt bur would have/may have collapsed the bubble...so I left it alone.

Once removed of dirt via the above, we used Ren Wax to restore the patina color and to preserve and keep the crumbing patina intact.

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It is what it is. Never ask more from your finds than what they will reveal. Never be in a hurry. Ask for advice.

Best regards,

Kevin