Sadigh Gallery

  The first rule of cleaning ancient coins? Do not clean it. While most coins may need general cleaning, using one's technique may do more harm than good. Most valuable coins rarely need cleaning, and they maintain their value without the need for some tidying. Sadigh Gallery shares in this blog post a brief guide on keeping coins clean.  Image source: forumancientcoins.com Coin cleaning is more apt for lower value coins such as dimes and pennies. For coins with patina, the greenish and copper-looking effect adds to the value, as condition and the date's rarity are considered. As a result, 99% of coins with patina cleaned off them do not sell for a higher value. To preserve or add to their value, ancient coins must be cleaned properly, with the patina still in place. The key to cleaning an ancient coin is patience. It can be challenging to preserve the patina while removing all of the dirt. Leave old coins in a container filled with distilled water for 24 hours. ...

Image source: pbs.org NAGPRA stands for the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. It is a federal law passed in 1990 that states a process for museums and federal agencies to return Native American artifacts to their original, lineal descendants or tribes. These could be human remains, sacred objects, funerary objects, or artifacts of cultural patrimony. While it all sounds black and white, museums and agencies are deeply challenged by this law, making it a controversial cultural debate over the years. Since NAGPRA’s legislation, it became a common belief that American Indians were happy about its passing. However, there were still some natives who felt that government was not doing enough to compensate for the damages that they have inflicted over the course of history. These include theft from the tribes and the damage that science has brought. Image source: theangryhistorian.blogspot.com At the same time, archaeologists and museum curators be...