Cleaning Coins & Artefacts

Format: Softback

Pages: 110

Illustrated: Full Colour

Size: 14.5cm x 21cm

Cleaning Coins & Artefacts by David Villanueva is the essential guide for anyone interested in cleaning and preserving metal detecting finds. This practical handbook explains how to safely conserve coins, relics, and artefacts without causing damage — ensuring your discoveries can be enjoyed for years to come.

Villanueva provides clear, step-by-step instructions, from basic cleaning and safe storage to more advanced methods such as electrolysis and chemical conservation. With detailed colour illustrations throughout, this book helps detectorists and collectors alike restore and display their finds with confidence.

While the author stresses that valuable or historically significant items should always be left to professional conservators, there is still much that hobbyists can do to protect and present their finds responsibly.

Key Topics Covered:

• Safe field handling and storage

• Identification and assessment of finds

• Mechanical and chemical cleaning methods

• Electrolysis techniques

• Repair, restoration, and replication

• Photographing and displaying finds

• The Treasure Act

• Useful bibliography and supplier directory

Perfect for:

Metal detectorists, collectors, and anyone passionate about historical artefacts and responsible conservation.

Contents:

• Acknowledgements

• About the Author

• Introduction

• In the Field

• Map Reading

• Safe Storage

• Identification & Assessment

• Introduction to Cleaning Finds

• Mechanical Cleaning

• Electrolysis

• Chemical Cleaning & Conservation

• Repair, Restoration & Replication

• Photographing Your Finds

• Storage & Display

• The Treasure Act

• Bibliography & Suppliers