Civil War Token...Maybe??

[Ranger72]

A couple finds today. Can't make out the coin, think it's a Presidential Token...can't make it out too well. Any suggestions on how to clean it up??

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

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

[HutSiteDigger]

I have seen artifacts ruined with people trying too use chemicals and other stuff they just conjured up alot. I would like to see photos of artifacts damaged by alittle warm water and a brush which im sure some artifacts have been messed up in the process, but i would still like too see artifacts that are completely ruined due to warm water and a brush.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

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

[matt092079]

I agree with Dan. I used to clean coins when I would get home with tap water. Basically destroyed the coins detail instantly.

 

[HutSiteDigger]

What about distilled water?? And im sure Dan is right, he is the one digging 100 coins a week but im jus saying Ive never had a problem with it... Call me a noob but I have not. Best thing to do is research anything before u clean a high dollar find of course and not to tell people you don't know to use chemicals, oh boy the stories and aftermath of all that. Anyhow i wonder if this Civil War token is been ID yet? still waiting with open eyes!

 

[HomeGuardDan]

Rutherford B Hayes Tokens. I thought it looked like Hayes when I first glanced.

As for the warm water and brush. Won't argue what works for you or not. The light toothbrush and dry brush works for me. The Half Penny I dug over the weekend is a good example of one that honestly if I washed with water it would have turned more red and lost detail, but again that is a for the soil down here.

Dan

 

[HutSiteDigger]

yah i may want to clarify that if you are too use warm water and a brush the best is distilled water, of course tap water is got some stuff in it that to be honest i am surprised were all still alive from drinking tap water lol, but yah tap and distilled water is different kinda like Bud Light and Samuel Adams.. We dont need any a reply here 9 months from now saying they used warm tap water and a brush and ruined there $1000 coin

 

[wheatfinder13]

Awesome

 

[BuckleBoy]

You can not go wrong with alittle warm water and a brush, its better to use warm water in a brush then use some chemical and solution, warm water and a brush is never damaged/ruined or made any of my coins or artifacts worse it's only when you use the chemicals or whatever people try that will damage the coin. OF course i'm not going to tell them to use certain chemicals even if the chemicals will work, I always say warm water and a brush.

One can absolutely go wrong with water. The mistake is assuming that water is not a cleaning method. Water leaching onto an item in the ground is far different from rubbing an item that is wet!

I have ruined good coins with water and a brush before!

 

[HutSiteDigger]

I am talking about Distilled water for the 100th time my friend, google Distilled water and cleaning coins. Why is it a proper cleaning method for soooo many people and also me but yet everyone on here say's not to do it Have you tried DISTILLED water

also distilled water is not for long term cleaning just something you can use to clean the coin/artifact for the 1st stage of cleaning....

I also mentioned in the first post when I said to use warm tap water that distilled water should be used near the bottom of the paragraph, since i figured he did not have any on hand I made it sound more like to use warm tap water which frankly I do not see at all ruining his artifact, I was not advising everyone to clean there coins with warm tap water, simply telling him how to clean his token up more to read the back of the token. I would never tell anyone to clean a valuable coin with warm tap water but to use distilled water. Just wanted to make that clear! but then again even tap water hasn't hurt any of my artifacts but apparently they have to others here. Learn as you go I guess.

 

[BuckleBoy]

Distilled or not, has made no difference in my experience. If you have a coin that is crusted up and in danger of losing detail, water will remove the detail. For brass items that have a beautiful green patina, the fastest way to turn those items brown and remove that beautiful green is to put any sort of water on them--distilled or not distilled. Doesn't matter. I have found that the only way to keep the green on brass is to let it thoroughly dry (not rub it while its wet), and dry brush with a toothbrush.

Best Wishes,

Buck

 

[zaxfire69]

I have cleaned hundreds of colonial buttons with water and by using the dry brush method. An item that is as crusty as your token is delicate. If you put water on that green patina of that token and rub it with anything you are going to ruin the details of that coin. When that green patina comes off you will be left with a rust color pitted token. The last two large cents I found ended up the exact same way. Buckleboy is right about dry brushing. On this particular token it would probably be the best method. I like it the way it is if you ask me. There is also another method posted in the Cleaning & Preservation forum. I'll post a link if I can find it. I used it on a large cent I found one time and it worked like a charm. Good luck with whatever method you use.

 

[Ranger72]

Wow, I really appreciate all the input! This debate will continue I would suspect, trying to find the right balance between soil type and coin is difficult. The token absolutely resembles the Hayes Token that Dan posted (thanks Dan!). I attempted a soft brush using a light touch of distilled water, believe it's damaged beyond saving. I'm definitely bummed, guess you live and learn. The soil composition in Alabama must be pretty damaging. Someone could make some cash if they figured out how to clean these up without damage! Thanks again everyone for the assistance!

 

[HutSiteDigger]

Did the distilled water do the damage when you were cleaning?? or are you saying the token was just too corroded for anything.. Experts always say distilled water is the way to go of course they have different ways of soaking the coin in distilled water and using mild detergent @ the same time,etc.. Amazing there is so much good info on the net written by experts on using Distilled water to clean coins but yet apparently it depends on the soil type,etc, i guess it's almost impossible too tell someone to use water or anything else guess it just comes down to not cleaning anything.. Can we get a photo of the token after you tried cleaning??

 

[BuckleBoy]

CHECK OUT MY BUTTON CLEANING POST IN THE CLEANING AND PRESERVATION SECTION AND YOU'LL SEE A BUTTON DESTROYED BY WATER, WITH NO BACKMARK TO SEE. WANT MORE? I'M HAPPY TO DIG INTO MY COLLECTION AND POST SOME COPPER COINS DESTROYED BY USING WATER TO CLEAN THEM INSTEAD OF DRY CLEANING.

 

[HutSiteDigger]

Yes would love to see some more photos of coins damaged by water.. Also state what kind of soil the coin was found and if you used distilled or tap water, then others who are researching this can come to this thread and figure out what is best. Maybe someone wants to punch me in the stomach but i honestly been very lucky not too have ruined any coin under water, however I DO NOT clean buttons with water, sometimes i may brush them lightly with distilled water if there not valuable.

Big difference between cleaning buttons and coins IMO.

 

[kuger]

...coins coming...kind of irrelevant though,#1 I dont have the before pics,of the coins,and #2 I dont see any reason to use water regardless, light brush the dust off is all that is needed

 

[BuckleBoy]

Here is a coin that would easily be destroyed by water, distilled or tap water makes no difference:

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/today-s-finds/332708-va-half-penny-saved-day.html



Yes, I don't have before photos--only disastrous results. So it is kind of irrelevant.