Coin Vip Treatment

[Nicholas 51]

I was surprised to see some of the things the British Museum are doing to their coin collection. Here is 2 treatments undertaken on an Ormonde issue civil war Irish crown.

Treatment date

3 May 2000

Treatment proposal

Light clean and lacquer where necessary.

Condition

Light, surface coating of dust and tarnish. Surface changes with a dull, matt appearence due to conversion of silver chloride to silver.

Treatment details

Cleaned using Acetone (propan-1-one/dimethyl ketone) applied on a soft brush. Lacquered with a 5% solution of Paraloid B72 (ethyl methacrylate copolymer) in 50;50 Industrial methylated spirits (ethanol,methanol) and Acetone (propan-1-one/dimethyl ketone) applied with a brush. This was done to help prevent further conversion of silver chloride to silver.

Treatment date

9 September 1996

Treatment proposal

Clean coin

Condition

Dirt and grime covering a heavy silver sulphide corrosion layer.

Treatment details

Swabbed with IMS and Acetone. Lightly polished with Goddard's long term silver cloth (comp. unknown).

Edited April 22, 2014 by Nicholas

[TomGoodheart 373]

And ... here's the result:

Not quite as bad as one might imagine from the description!

My Father-in-Law sometimes asks why I don't visit more museums as 'surely they have the best coin collections'?

Despite my explaining that museums seem to have different aims and often end up with a random selection of donated items they want to look nice, rather than a proper collection that can be used for study and comparison, I'm not sure he gets it ...

[Nicholas 51]

Yes Tom, I hope the restorers didn't accidentally put that hole in the coin...

[azda 973]

There seems to be 2 holes

[Nicholas 51]

Oh yeah the holes don't match. I can definitely see some residual silver cleaner in rim devices! And an uncertain lacquery shine ...I recall two Carlisle siege shillings sold in a recent spink auction with similar characteristics...

Edited April 23, 2014 by Nicholas

[Nordle11 564]

I think Azda is right you know, it doesn't look like those holes match up!