Mounting Roman Coins...

[Magnus]

Hey everyone, I have 3 roman coins I'd like to put in some kind of frame, but one which would allow you to still see both sides. Anyone mounted some coins in a classy way? I was thinking of a deep picture frame, and using some kind of clear material sandwhiched by something else.

Any one else done this?

[Senovara]

Been wondering that myself ... got several roman coins as a gift from my brother but haven't figured out how to show them off properly.

I thought about using a shadow-box frame, but still don't know how to work it out.

[Caballo]

Mounting Roman Coins...





is probably illegal in several US states....... :wink:

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

I would have thought a cutout for the coins, sandwiched between two sheets of glass in a frame? Then you can see both sides!

Like thin wod, ad you could covr it wit hfelt or varnish it etc as nausium....

[Senovara]

Mounting Roman Coins...
is probably illegal in several US states....... :wink:

Yes, but Magnus and I live in Canada.:lol:

cutout for the coins, sandwiched between two sheets of glass in a frame?

Byron, thanks for the suggestion ... though for me glass would be difficult to work with. I still want to somehow use the shadow-box (it's like a deep frame where you can put stuff inside to show off), and i'm thinking of using a wire "hanger" to hold the coins in place, but I think it would look too ugly. *sigh* Ah well.

And speaking of coins, does anyone know of a a proper way to clean them? I've soaked them in soapy water and everything, but there's still a layer of crud (for want of a better word) on them.

[Caius Fabius]

I gave a bunch of uncleaned coins to one of my high school history classes. They were supposed to try and clean and identify them for the class project. the coins that got cleaned the best were those dropped into her purse and forgotten for several weeks by one of my students. :roll:

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Byron, thanks for the suggestion ... though for me glass would be difficult to work with. I still want to somehow use the shadow-box (it's like a deep frame where you can put stuff inside to show off), and i'm thinking of using a wire "hanger" to hold the coins in place, but I think it would look too ugly. *sigh* Ah well.

.

What about perspex? Or some sort of clear plastic?

[Magnus]

Byron, thanks for the suggestion ... though for me glass would be difficult to work with. I still want to somehow use the shadow-box (it's like a deep frame where you can put stuff inside to show off), and i'm thinking of using a wire "hanger" to hold the coins in place, but I think it would look too ugly. *sigh* Ah well.

And speaking of coins, does anyone know of a a proper way to clean them? I've soaked them in soapy water and everything, but there's still a layer of crud (for want of a better word) on them.

Sharon, I have an idea...i may try it over the holidays. I think it will work...and it also uses one of your shadow boxes.

As for cleaning, Caius Fabius once suggested to me to soak them in olive oil for a few months. I've done that, then gone at them with nylon wire brushes (glorified toothbrushes), then let them soak again. Or you can take them to a jeweler and they can do some kind of electro something that lifts the dirt off.

[Senovara]

That's great Matt, let me know if your idea is successful.

Golly, soak the coins for *months*, eh? ... I better start now then.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Hmmmm, so what is a shadow box then Sharon? I thought it was a frame open on both sides? Not really up on these things I'm afraid... :?

[Marcus Mummius]

If the corrosion on the copper alloy coins is stable it's a better idea not to remove it... You would remove the protective patina and open up the way for oxygen again, which will result in new corrosion of the healthy metal and even more loss of material...

Do not have them cleaned by heating them and then dipping them into acid (a lot of platers still use this technique). Fine detail will be lost this way...

If you mount the coins (which might be risky IMHO), be sure to use a non-reactive material... Best not use regular cardboard (the acids in it will damage the metal), nor wood that has been treated correctly. Most wood will spread corrosive organic vapours.

Valete,

[Magnus]

Thanks Jef, I forgot about the chemicals in papers. I'll hit an art store and get some non-acidic stuff...

Also Sharon, you can google "cleaning ancient/antique coins" and you'll get some good information there.

[Senovara]

Most good-quality drawing papers will be acid-free, and if you want a subtle colour background, ask for the German Ingres papers, which are usually sold by-the-sheet.

Byron, best way to descibe it is like as a 1" deep wood box w/ a glass or clear cover with a frame. When you open it up, you could put 3-dimensional objects in it!

[Marcus Mummius]

Thanks Jef, I forgot about the chemicals in papers. I'll hit an art store and get some non-acidic stuff...

Also Sharon, you can google "cleaning ancient/antique coins" and you'll get some good information there.

When I was studying archaeology those things weren't mentioned but now I'm studying archaeological conservation, and those guys are a lot stricter :lol:

You have to know that acid free paper and cardboard isn't really acid free. Certain substances were added to the paper/cardboard to neutralise the acids, but after years these substances will stop working. So you might want to replace it after some years.

Vale,

[Caius Fabius]

I had several replica Vespasian coins and I had them placed in a Plexiglas paperweight, so people (students) could see both sides. Of course, one day when I was called out of class, they disappeared! hock:
Of course, putting real coins in such a medium would ruin any value, but it might look okay. I had a local trophy shop do mine, since they had the equipment and did it very inexpensively.