Cleaning a shield nickel

[Baldingboy]

Ok, I found a shield nickel the other day and want to be able to clean it in order to see what the date is. I notice that the shield nickel is 75 percent copper and only 25 percent nickel. Any suggestions? I thought about using the peroxide method. There is not a whole lot of detail left on the coin. Here are some pictures.

[Baldingboy]

Helloooooooooooo. Anybody?

[cosmic]

I would try that first.. If not working try instant mashed potatoes.. Check every hour..

[Merf]

Here is one I cleaned. I put it in the rock tumbler with some aquarium gravel and water for two hours.
Then I soaked it in white vinegar and salt for one hour. After the soak I cleaned it with baking soda and water . Every coin is different so I can not guarantee results.
Hope yours cleans up nice. Merf

[BuckleBoy]

I would try the salt and white vinegar first...when it gets silvery colored, take it out of the solution and rub a little baking soda into the coin with your fingers--that will polish it up a bit, as well as stop the vinegar reaction. If that doesn't do it, try something else.

Regards,


Buckleboy

[Baldingboy]

I would try the salt and white vinegar first...when it gets silvery colored, take it out of the solution and rub a little baking soda into the coin with your fingers--that will polish it up a bit, as well as stop the vinegar reaction. If that doesn't do it, try something else.

Regards,


Buckleboy

Thanks Buckleboy....I may try the salt and white vinegar solution.

You stated that "when it gets silvery colored, take it out of the solution" . My concern is that this coin is said to be 75% copper, so will it turn silver colored? Is that the true color of the coin imparted to it by the 25% nickel that is in it? Any problems with the composition of this coin and this cleaning method that you know of? I know nothing is guarenteed...just want to do this right the first time. It is among the few of my better finds.

T

[BuckleBoy]

I would try the salt and white vinegar first...when it gets silvery colored, take it out of the solution and rub a little baking soda into the coin with your fingers--that will polish it up a bit, as well as stop the vinegar reaction. If that doesn't do it, try something else.

Regards,


Buckleboy

Thanks Buckleboy....I may try the salt and white vinegar solution.

You stated that "when it gets silvery colored, take it out of the solution" . My concern is that this coin is said to be 75% copper, so will it turn silver colored? Is that the true color of the coin imparted to it by the 25% nickel that is in it? Any problems with the composition of this coin and this cleaning method that you know of? I know nothing is guarenteed...just want to do this right the first time. It is among the few of my better finds.

T

If in doubt, I would say don't clean it. I don't remember right off the top of my head the composition of later nickels, but you should ALWAYS experiment first with any cleaning method on things that you won't be upset about if the method goes awry. I have tried the salt and vinegar, and I don't swear by it like I do peroxide for copper coins. Sometimes I like the results, and sometimes I don't. I do like using this method to be able to identify a nickel though.

-Buckleboy

[Timberwolf]

Baldingboy,

Be VERY carefull with the salt & vinegar.
That solution will eat away copper, if left in too long

Timberwolf

[X-Terra70_TreasureHunter]

Hi refer too my Post i was able too remove the redish hugh off a coin

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.p...,143334.0.html

[RHoward]

This method takes awhile but does not harm the coin. Soak in olive oil for a couple weeks and then clean with soap, warm water and a tothbrush. Repeat if needed may even take a couple months.

[Neil in West Jersey]

I found this one a while back. Let me know how your results are before I try it on mine !

[Neil in West Jersey]

The results are in!

Here are the results after about 30 minutes of 5 minute vinegar & salt treatments. I am not sure which is better.

[curbdiggercarl57]

Lime-Away?
CurbdiggerCarl