A Good Old Fashioned Cleaning of the Peace Dollars
A few weeks ago, I picked up two silver Peace dollars .. And was eager to bring out their beauty with a bit of gentle cleaning. After some research, I decided to go with the mildest approach possible, using just a dab of blue Dawn dish soap and the very tips of my fingers, applying the lightest touch. As I worked, I could see years of grime lifting off, revealing more of the coins' original surfaces. They’re still toned, but now the toning has a charming quality that almost appears to have hints of rainbow colors when viewed in the right light, although the predominant color is a brownish hue.
Before Cleaning - photo of the Obverse
After cleaning - the Obverse
I know there’s some debate in coin-collecting circles about toning.. Some collectors see it as a negative, while others appreciate the unique beauty and character it brings. Personally, I don’t mind the toning at all. I think it gives the Peace dollars a bit of personality and tells part of their history. After this small clean-up, I’ll leave them in their natural, circulated state. They’re still far from uncirculated, but the finer details are more visible now, and I’d say they’re somewhere in the EF to AU range. But since I’m not a professional grader, it’s just my best guess.
Before Cleaning - photo of the Reverse
After Cleaning - the Reverse
I think they came out looking pretty good :)
Huxley The Helper
Sir Huxley looking on and waiting for the okay to investigate
As I worked on cleaning the Peace dollars .. Mr. Huxley was right by my side, watching every move with keen interest. He was so curious, he even laid down beside the coins as I snapped photos for today’s post, staying close as if he were supervising the process. Once I finished, he patiently sat next to them, waiting for the go-ahead to give them a few investigative nose nudges and gentle licks. Thank goodness I’d just cleaned them! Now, of course, they have some fresh little wet nose smudges from Huxley’s "quality check."
He's being such a good boy waiting while Daddy takes photos of the coins
SNIFF SNIFF, LICK LICK.. Hux Approves!
Vanda Orchid Blooms on the Move
On another note, our Vanda Orchids have been putting on their own kind of show.. It’s been about six days since I last shared photos, and it’s amazing to see how much the Panchara Delight bloom has progressed. Its flower stem has grown several inches in that short time, reaching eagerly towards the light, while the Wilas x Dr. Anek bloom is still moving at its own steady, slower pace. Even though it’s not growing as quickly, it’s definitely making progress, and I’m curious to see how the two blooms will compare once they’re both fully developed.
Panchara Delight bloom stem - Growing fast
Wilas x Dr. Anek bloom stem - Still small
I’ll be back with more updates .. Once the Panchara Delight Vanda begins to open up. It’s always a thrill to see those first petals unfold, revealing colors that seem even more vibrant than I remember from past blooms.
Between the subtle beauty of the Peace dollars and the vivid transformation of the orchids, these small changes are a reminder of the quiet rewards that come with ..
Patience and Care
“Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. Try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books written in a foreign language. Do not now look for the answers. They cannot now be given to you because you could not live them. It is a question of experiencing everything. At present you need to live the question. Perhaps you will gradually, without even noticing it, find yourself experiencing the answer, some distant day.”
― Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet
Thank you for swinging by my blog and checking out the post. Have a great day!
All words, pictures and art pieces are the sole property of B D Miller Gallery, unless otherwise noted and credited, and are not to be reproduced or copied without the prior written consent of B D Miller Gallery.
Hello!!
Nice to see Mister Huxley...🤗
I was struck by the dark color of those silver coins, because I always imagined they were 100% pure...but if they take that color is that they are mixed with copper or other metals that do oxidize?
This is the opinion of someone who knows nothing about coins and not much about metals.
We can see the immense love and affection you have for your plants and your baby.
Delighted to read you.
🌻
You received an upvote of 100% from Precious the Silver Mermaid!
Thank you for contributing more great content to the #SilverGoldStackers tag.
You have created a Precious Gem!
Awe, very nice. That's great that Huxley is helping you out! They turned out really good.
Much better, you can see the details now and it still has the nice toning.
That is a very exciting orchid! I love your photos of it
And, although I miss the Pepper/Orchid compositions, Huxley/Silver photos will be a welcome replacement. He's a charmer on camera!
It is a long and slow process for environmental chemicals to cause natural toning to the surface of a coin.
Many of these silver coins became toned because of the way they were stored for long periods. I have seen severe cases where the toning has turned into corrosion and caused permanent damage to the coin's surface.
Look at your vanda!!! Be sure to bring us updates!
May I say that I love Huxely! He is adorable!!!
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I think Huxley is taking to silver.
Those inquisitive little eyes.
" they have some fresh little wet nose smudges " LOL He sure is different from Molly when it comes to posing...
You have an interesting hobby :) but sorry, the dog is the star of this post :) And definitely the most beautiful and adorable helper :))
Que tierno 🐶jjjj me imagino que este perrito sea el más viral de hive, siempre lo veo en tendencia en Ecency jjjj es todo un crack, interesantes monedas 🪙 @bdmillergalley 😊👏. Gracias por compartir saludos desde cuba