To Clean Coins or Leave Them Alone

[Gatorinsc]

I'm a newbie to this forum but not to metal detecting, having joined the hobby in my mid teens in North Florida using a cheap Radio Shack metal detector. Now I'm in my forties, live in the Midlands of South Carolina, and use an improved Radio Shack detector but have noticed a problem with the coins I find here in this state that I did not have in Florida.

Due to the clay content in the soil here, the coins I find tend to be very darkly stained, especially when I find the zinc clad coins of recent mintage. Nickels, dimes, quarters - all have the same dark stains on them once the dirt is rinsed from them. I do not have any pics of them but does anyone else has the same problem with coins being so stained by the clay. I would also like to know what I could use - short of acid - to clean them with to make them more viewable. I understand ammonia is used on some coins. Maybe I should try some and see if it works or is there something else that someone recommends?

Thanks.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Family Maps of Hinds County, Mississippi, Deluxe Edition - Grab it through Amazon!

[dadzilla]

I have noticed the newer pennies seem to corrode away in our soil. Older coins will stain but the newer pennies go fast . As for cleaning I would like to know what is recommended to use to get the crude off coins and other small non magnetic relics.

 

[Fatboy]

There is a lot of good information given by the folks here on this site check out the cleaning and preservation area
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/board,70.0.html


HH

FB

 

[JCsilver]

I haven't tried this but was told by a coinshooter that salt and vingar takes stains off coins. How much of each i'm not sure.. Happy hunting Jc

 

[dlvasil]

have not tried this but, when i was a kid, my mom would line the bottom of her porcelain sink with tin foil (shiny side down) and fill about 1/3 the way with warm water and a few good chugs of household ammonia. then she would place her sterling silver tableware and candle stick holders in the solution. within a few hours, the tarnish would have transfered from the silver and adhered to the foil. might be worth a shot.
dlvasil
ravenna, oh