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TIL I was cleaning ancient coins completely wrong for 15 years
So I've been volunteering at the local museum's archaeology lab in Austin for about 6 months now. Last week, the curator walked by while I was scrubbing a Roman coin from a dig site, and she just stopped and stared at me. She told me I was using a brass brush and water - which I thought was standard - but apparently that scratches the patina and destroys the value of the coin for researchers. She handed me this special soft toothbrush and showed me how to use distilled water with a little acetone instead. I've probably ruined a dozen coins over the years without even knowing it. Has anyone else gotten a shock like that about basic cleaning methods?
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cole_mitchell84d ago
Same thing happened to me with old silverware. Was scrubbing with regular dish soap and a green scrubby for years before someone told me it was destroying the finish. Now just warm water and a microfiber cloth.
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