Artifact Preservation 101, "running coins"

[capt dom]

Artifact Preservation 101, "running coins"

We thought you all will get akick out of this!
cleaning coins can be like unwrapping Christmas presents!

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Minelab PRO-FIND 35 Waterproof Pinpointer Metal Detector for Experts with Tone ID & Adjustable Sensitivity - Grab it through Amazon!

[Snee]

Re: Artifact Preservation 101, "running coins"

At the risk of sounding like an unknolegable bafoon....what is it you're doing there? What's the process called and what's involved. Also, what coins are you cleaning?

 

[capt dom]

Re: Artifact Preservation 101, "running coins"

The electrolyte I am using is a mild soda ash solution mixed with water and some lemon juice.

I use a 12 volt - 3 amp power supply and then an old fashioned Variac to adjust the power downward - depending on how many coins we are running. More coins require more amperage and voltage but you have to be careful not to "push" or cook the coins with too much voltage.

I did this once {push} and made the mistake of using crome plated alligator clips made of copper and the coins ended up looking like an alligator bit them! I figured I could sell them to the guys that wore IZOG shirts back then!

The process is called electrostatic reductionand it is basically the reverse of the electric plating process but don't call it - reverse electrolosis... That would be growing hair!

A positive charge is run through - in this case a stailess steel bolt and the negetive charge is run through the coins. We haven't found any copper coins at our wreck site so I can't answer that question

 

[BuckleBoy]

Re: Artifact Preservation 101, "running coins"

Just out of curiosity, what is your "slow process" Grubstake? I have some silver coins from the beach but they pretty darn encrusted. Any help would be appreciated.

Buckleboy

 

[mad4wrecks]

Re: Artifact Preservation 101, "running coins"

The main advantage of electrolytic reduction is that it removes the salt chlorides from the metal and stabilizes the deterioration process (there are a number of additional steps that need to be done, esp. for artifacts)

I don't think nitric acid alone will do this-maybe just the surface corrosion.

When immersed in saltwater, silver turns to silver sulfide and iron turns to iron oxide (rust) and thus, the process that Capt. Dom illustrates with his pictures, electrolytic reduction, is the best way to thoroughly preserve the artifacts. This is how most of the professional conservators and museums do it.