Dont clean it!

cptbil

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Mar 27, 2003
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Michigan Badger

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Oct 12, 2005
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Re: Don't clean it!

I've found that a water soak is good for most dug copper/bronze finds. It removes the surface crud without giving the item that artificial cleaned look.

But I think I know what you're saying, harsh cleaning is oft times a very bad thing.

Large cents, Colonial coppers, etc., cleaned via electrolysis and/or acids look awful. They're all pitted and nasty looking. A dug large cent with a smoother corrosion and faint detail is far more desireable to a collector than one that looks like it sat inside a car battery for 6 months but has deep detail.

I know this is not accepted on here but it's true. But today we have a strange thing going on with ebay and some who don't know what they're doing bid high on crap coins. They'll be in for a shock when they try to sell to a real collector some day.
 

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