Please tell me im not the only idiot who destroys my finds

[MissIron.Maiden]

What's the first thing I do when I find a decent old coin? I destroy it... Uuuhhggggg. I get all excited and think that if I just remove enough crud to see it more clearly... Next thing you know I lose the date n details. Luckily it hasn't been coins worth anything, but they are my special find. Today I found a 1910 penny n with ketchup made it a turquoise mess. So I thought if I use soap n water n just scrub alittle.. Nope.. If I just do a quick electrolysis dip.. Then yeah I can totally destroy it. I did this with a silver 1800's coin before to:/ and some others .
So I stop doing this to my coins , what is the proper protocol , so that you can make the details clear enough to try to reAd it .

 

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[TerryC]

(nice coin, BTW) TTC

 

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[TerryC]

I was able to find the pics of the iron "stuff" I mention above. One man's trash is another man's treasure!
TTC

 

[MissIron.Maiden]

This is quite true

 

[GatorBoy]

 

[dirtdigginfool]

Don't feel unique!! I'm sure that I speak for many when I say that I, or we, have at some time or another destroyed or degraded a coin or other relic due to improper or rushed cleaning. Not from ignorance..as we do know better..but from excitement and anxiousness! I took a WIRE BRUSH to my very first Indian Head cent..which was in excellent shape but a little corroded..and I like, totally f'ed it up with the wire brush. ... My md'ing buddy threatened to stab me in the face with the wire brush if I ever do it again..which I won't. And he has taken responsibility of cleaning my older/valuable finds..hee hee...So get out there and find more good stuff..happy hunting..ddf

 

[MissIron.Maiden]

Well I got back there, today , n found an old carbide light and shattered the glass cause I got all anxious, because people were watching me .. Lol. This may not be the hobby for me :/

 

[TerryC]

Well I got back there, today , n found an old carbide light and shattered the glass cause I got all anxious, because people were watching me .. Lol. This may not be the hobby for me :/

I did a similar boo boo. I got a target in AZ "dirt" which is more like CEMENT. I found the barrel of a cap gun. The barrel appeared to have a fresh "break". Yes.... the rest of the gun soon came out of the dirt. I too was excited and did not take my time and ruined the find. Keep at it. It gets better! TTC