>>20180601>>20184057I had cleaned the bottom and left bullet by 2020 but wasn't skilled enough to comfortably tackle the top bullet, it's in the best state of preservation but was too encrusted with really tenacious limestone caliche for me to safely navigate then. With the aid of new tools I made and additional experience with chemicals I felt comfy working on it and I think the results are superb. HCl and patinated copper alloys are a dangerous mix but the bronze was largely unaltered, nonporous and the dark oxide patina (vs green carbonate) less susceptible to damage so albeit tedious, the process of manual cleaning of a small spot with tools and then dabbing it with minuscule drops of ~10% HCl, then blotting, dipping in clean water, drying and repeating dozens of times was extremely successful. The finest details like microscopic marks from sharpening, microdivots from hammer-hardening and other subtle but informative features are well preserved, plus it looks way more visually impressive now which further enhances its great value and appeal. I really gotta get me more ancient coins and artifacts to restore, I can't adequately express how damn satisfying and fulfilling it is man, it's an awesome hobby.
