This would clean up the copper part of the coins just fine, but seems to me that the that the citric acid in the lemon juice is probably strong enough (as even vinegar is) to attack the zinc core wherever the coin is nicked and the underlying zinc is exposed. If this is the case, then electrolysis is going to make each coin behave like a little shorted-out battery, accelerating the process. Worse, as the zinc becomes zinc citrate, the reaction is going to release hydrogen gas, which could even create an explosion hazard. I'd try putting some on a few of the wost (and most likely to have exposed zinc) coins first. If they give off little bubbles, then you'd want to either dilute the lemon juice further or use something neutral, like salt.

• Re: possible hazard Rick(ND) 22:41:01 9/24/2001 (0)