CLEANING COINS?

[electrician270]

Can anyone give me some advice on cleaning coins. I know its best not to use anything abrasive but sometimes (most of the time) coins have so much crud I cant think of a non abrasive way? I have seen some videos where some people use a tumbler and pea gravel and some where people use vinegar. I was wondering if sand would work in a tumbler, or maybe crushed corn cob? Sorry if I sound crazy and I hear people say not to damage a rare find, but if you cant identify it from the crud built up on it from its unknown length of time spent underground what do you do? PS: I have tried a sonic jewelry cleaner too but it doesnt work for the real cruddy stuff. Any and all techniques, suggestions,and words of advice would be GREATLY APPRECIATED because I dont want to mess up a real gem should I ever be lucky enough to find one! Thanks in advance and Best Of Luck detecting ladies and gentleman!

 

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[DigginDownUnder]

I just give a gentle soak in warm soapy water for 10 mins, and gently rub the dirt of with my fingers under the running water. I then soak them in pure olive oil for several days.

With silver coins I juice a lemon, add an iron nail, and soak the coin for 30 seconds to a couple of minutes, depending on the condition.

 

[RobRieman]

Can anyone give me some advice on cleaning coins. I know its best not to use anything abrasive but sometimes (most of the time) coins have so much crud I cant think of a non abrasive way? I have seen some videos where some people use a tumbler and pea gravel and some where people use vinegar. I was wondering if sand would work in a tumbler, or maybe crushed corn cob? Sorry if I sound crazy and I hear people say not to damage a rare find, but if you cant identify it from the crud built up on it from its unknown length of time spent underground what do you do? PS: I have tried a sonic jewelry cleaner too but it doesnt work for the real cruddy stuff. Any and all techniques, suggestions,and words of advice would be GREATLY APPRECIATED because I dont want to mess up a real gem should I ever be lucky enough to find one! Thanks in advance and Best Of Luck detecting ladies and gentleman!

If it's that full of crud a rare coin will likely be trashed environmentally anyway. You can tumble them with fish tank gravel and a little dawn to get most of the crud off to roll them or send then through a coin star machine. You can try hot peroxide or olive oil on the old coppers. If they are real bad and you remove the patina you usually end up with a blank copper disk. Tumble copper separate from the clad. Silver usually come out of the hole looking nice and shiny unless your salt water hunting.

 

[DigginDownUnder]

Sometimes you need to clean silver.
I pulled this silver coin, it was clean and a nice silver colour.

within half an hour it turned into this, I believe from being in low oxygen soil for 100+ years.

One minute in lemon juice brought it back to this.

 

[Jason in Enid]

First, there is ZERO problem with cleaning 99% of coins. You only need to be careful with those key and semi-key date coins. If it's so trashed that you can't even see the date, you are losing nothing by trying to clean it however you wish.

 

[Normsel]

I am not sure if this is allowed but there a lot of coin cleaning methods, try this link

Cleaning & Preservation of Coins - A Complete Guide