Ancient coin??

[birdman]

Another find from Germany ,I was told that it may be a celtic coin but can't find any thing like it on the net. I think it is silver and it is fairly thick and about the size of a US penny. It looks like it could be cleaned up a bit but I have been scared to damage the coin.It has a layer of black crust over much of it and my have some thing under the layer. Any help would be great.Thanks much.

 

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[CRUSADER]

Most likely Celtic. Although not enough detail for me to ID. I could pass it to an expert, if you PM me to remind me when I get home. Seek professional help to clean it.

 

[birdman]

Good stuff Crusader . What is the best way to clean old silver without damaging it?

 

[CRUSADER]

Good stuff Crusader . What is the best way to clean old silver without damaging it?

I would not use anything harsher than Lemon Juice on my Roman Silver. Never had problems with my Celtic Silver as they have come out nice. It looks like it has a copper core. Don't do anything until I get a response on the ID. I will email now.

 

[vercingetorix]

Hi birdman

Nice celtic coin indeed . I think its copper-silver alloy . take an old toothbrush , dip it into white vinegar and rub the coin carefully untill you can make out any detail .after that put it for a while under water ( to stop the acidity ) and let us see the result

 

[Montana Jim]

Did I just see a Frenchman disagree with an Englishman?

Relax... I thought it was funny!

 

[vercingetorix]

The more I see it the more I think It is filled ( copper core with silver plating on it )
...

 

[CRUSADER]

Did I just see a Frenchman disagree with an Englishman?

Relax... I thought it was funny!

You were saying

 

[CRUSADER]

Hi birdman

Nice celtic coin indeed . I think its copper-silver alloy . take an old toothbrush , dip it into white vinegar and rub the coin carefully untill you can make out any detail .after that put it for a while under water ( to stop the acidity ) and let us see the result

Firstly we are not at war anymore Vercingetorix has the best names on here. As the most famous Galic Warrior ever known.

Birdman,
Its your coin & you clean it anyway your confortable doing it. The reason I say wait is because if it turns out to be the one one known you will kick yourself if you trash it. I never clean coins much & if I do I always know what I'm cleaning.

 

[vercingetorix]

cleaning old coins is always tricky . you have to ID it accurately BEFORE starting cleaning it and if you're not sure DON'T DO ANYTHING .

this method of cleaning only applies for copper-silver alloy coins ( like romans antonianus for example) but if it's silver plated I have no idea ...

By the way Crusader one of my detectorist's dream would be to find a gold stater of vercingetorix ,maybe the rarest of all ...

 

[birdman]

Great input all around! Its funny how some times you find some thing and don't think much about it until the second look. That is how this coin was .Just knowing that it is probably Celtic is phenomenal.I think the main problem with the coin is that with out cleaning it it may be hard to get an ID.

 

[CRUSADER]

Great input all around! Its funny how some times you find some thing and don't think much about it until the second look. That is how this coin was .Just knowing that it is probably Celtic is phenomenal.I think the main problem with the coin is that with out cleaning it it may be hard to get an ID.

I know an expert that might, so hold on a few days. I have emailed but he does travel

 

[CRUSADER]

Heres his comments:

"Thanks for this – unfortunately I can’t do much with it other than say it’s some sort of eastern Gaulish potin/cast bronze. The problem is that there are a multitude of types which look more or less the same – a stylized head on the obverse and a (very) stylized bull on the reverse – and with a fair degree of corrosion masking the designs I can’t really pin it down any more precisely. Datewise it should be late second or early first century BC. It may be possible to pick some of that ‘muck’ off the coin but I am reluctant to offer any advice on cleaning since I don’t have specialist knowledge of that and I don’t want to be responsible for the thing falling apart! One of the MD forums will no doubt have people much better qualified to offer that sort of advice."


A Potin is the earliest type of coin produced in the UK. Coins started earlier in Europe but still in Celtic terms its pretty early. So confirmed as Celtic coin with no full ID but up to you how/if you clean.

 

[bubbas]

hello

this is 100% a celtic POTIN coin

POTIN is a mix of metals (i can,t explain in englisch sorry)

the only thing you can try (with no risk) to clan the coin is to put it in accid free VASELINE

let it rest for a vieuw day,s and then take a toothstick (made of wood) en try to pick the dirt of the coin

dont yuse to much power (if it not works leave the coin as it is)

when it is claener i can tell you more about the type of coin

greatings bubbas (nice find)

 

[folkert]

Hi Bubbas, you have found a potin (60-50 BC) from the tribe of the Nervii.
http://www.muenzauktion.com/dumez/i...de&PHPSESSID=4041f1dc0af6447f7eaae7e73034ac9c
The Nervii settled in the area what is todays Belgium and a part of the Netherlands

 

[birdman]

Great information! I have the coin in soapy water right now to see it it softend up the tarter like corrosion.I will try vaseline also. I am very excited and this coin is my best find to date. I had it in plastic for the last year and a half or so with out thinking much about it.

 

[CRUSADER]

Great information! I have the coin in soapy water right now to see it it softend up the tarter like corrosion.I will try vaseline also. I am very excited and this coin is my best find to date. I had it in plastic for the last year and a half or so with out thinking much about it.

When using the tooth pick make sure you push the dirt off horizontal & not vertical

 

[bubbas]

Hi Bubbas, you have found a potin (60-50 BC) from the tribe of the Nervii.
http://www.muenzauktion.com/dumez/i...de&PHPSESSID=4041f1dc0af6447f7eaae7e73034ac9c
The Nervii settled in the area what is todays Belgium and a part of the Netherlands

hi folkert

these are NOT my finds

I have found a vew potin coins but not these one,s


water and SOAP is not a good thing (it make the coin dry out)

what BIRDMAN say,s is right (PUSH HORIZONTAL)

most of the time there is nothing to do about the condition of POTIN COINS.

gr bubbas

 

[rayredditch]

Trent, put the vaseline in a metal container (Doesn´t need to be big, so long as the vaseline covers the coin completely. Heat the vaseline first, till it´s molten (Not hot enough that it smokes, but a cocktail stick tip should cause it to bubble). Then place the coin in the vaseline, completely covering it. In a short while it should start to bubble, this is the vaseline getting into the crud. When it stops bubbling, take the coin out with twezers, and place it on some kitchen roll type paper, and allow to cool. Then prize the loose crud off as described above. Repeat the process as often as necessary till you´re happy (Don´t remove PATINA).
This is how I cleaned that last Roman silver I had.
Important thing to remember, don´t let the vaseline get too hot, it shouldn´t be smoking !!!
HH Ray

 

[birdman]

Good stuff Ray , I will give it a shot.