how to clean coins

[spisswgt]

what is the best way to clean a really old coin? can someone post steps or something to follow? i dont want to damage any old coins.

 

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[acedigger]

There are several methods such as a peroxide bath. I would not clean anything unless its absolutely necessary. You run the risk of ruining your coins. There have been many posts dedicated to this process.

 

[Born2Dtect]

Another touchy topic here. Some say never clean a valuable coin, others clean everything. My question is "How do you know it is valuable if you cannot tell what it is?" I always try to ID a coin I find, by first rinsing in water and a little gentle rubbing. Some put them into pill bottles with cotton or water and soap. Why, to prevent scratching and oxidizing ( air is not a recovered coins friend). Out of the field I try a little soap and water with a soft tooth brush. Hope fully by this time I know what I have. As a note I know that a large percentage of coins I find will not grade or are the lowest grade given for appraisals of coins. Another way to say it is almost all coins I have found are not worth a lot. If I ever suspected they were I would get professional help with there cleaning.

 

[Lasivian]

I would say if you find something of exceptional value and you intend to sell it, send it to a professional.

If you're dead-set against that a looooong soak in olive oil or distilled water, changing it when it gets dirty would be the least likely to do any harm. Make sure you don't rub the dirt off, you'll leave tiny scratches.

Mind you the more valuable the coin and the better it's condition under the dirt might be, the more cautious you have to be.

If you just want them to look decent for your own display you can be alot rougher than a museum conservator would be.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

The proper way to clean coins, especially gold coins, is with a wire grinding wheel. That'll shine them up real good! If you don't have an industrial wire wheel, another way to do it is this: Take some 2-sided tape. Tape the coin to your car's tire. Drive around the block a few times, and PRESTO! It'll be nice and shiny

 

[Lasivian]

The proper way to clean coins, especially gold coins, is with a wire grinding wheel. That'll shine them up real good! If you don't have an industrial wire wheel, another way to do it is this: Take some 2-sided tape. Tape the coin to your car's tire. Drive around the block a few times, and PRESTO! It'll be nice and shiny

**CRINGE** It's really not nice of you to make a grown man cry

 

[spisswgt]

lol i thought he was serious for a minute... i was like what the heck is this guy smoking and is it legal?