Cleaning Coins and Artefacts

The author, David Villanueva, shows you what you can safely do to clean & preserve excavated metal finds from field, or beach, to frame. In The Field explains simple steps you can take to extract your finds, record find spots and bring your finds safely home. Map reading shows how to accurately plot your find spots and navigate back to those hotspots. Safe Storage discusses the making-up, use and value of using a dry box for storing finds, even if it is only temporary. Identification and Assessment addresses the fact that before you can do anything with your find you will need to know what metal it is made from and preferably what it is and whether it is valuable or not. Introduction to Cleaning Finds covers corrosion of metals and the health and safety considerations you must be aware of before you attempt to clean or conserve finds. Mechanical Cleaning; Electrolysis; Chemical Cleaning and Conservation - while recognising that finds of significant monetary or historical value are best left to experts, there is much that can be done to clean and conserve your finds. Photographing your finds. You can buy coins and artefacts far below their value on auction sites simply because the seller has taken a poor photograph. Photographing small objects is easy when you know how and all is explained in this book. Storage and Display - clearly explained methods for safe storage and display in a wide variety of options and styles. The Treasure Act - everything you need to know to comply with the Act and not lose your reward.