Coin Cleaning

[TORRERO]

So generally I don't recommend cleaning coins but I'm going through my collection preparing things for sale at Auction (I'll post another thread)
And I came across this Barber Quarter, clearly hard to see, as I dug it probably 20 years ago. (Dug like this not tarnished by time)
I used baking Soda and rubbed the coin for maybe 5 minutes both sides...
Opinions ? or is there a better way to clean up these blackened coins ?
Clearly I couldn't get all the black stuff off, it was dug like that, probably because it was sitting next to iron ? Maybe ?
What do you all think ?

 

[Loco-Digger]

I use the baking soda, aluminum foil,& boiling water method. Line a casserole dish with aluminum foil shiny side up. pour about 1/2 cup of baking soda, place the coin in the dish and pour about 2 cups of boiling water in the dish. Let it sit for a few minutes.

 

[xr7ator]

I use boiling hydrogen peroxide and sprinkle oxyclean powder on the coin while still very hot and let sit and cool. Then, very soft tooth brush.

 

[djackson7348]

Personally, I wouldn't go any further. Sometimes a little "dirt" gives a coin the contrast it needs to be interesting.

 

[TORRERO]

Personally, I wouldn't go any further. Sometimes a little "dirt" gives a coin the contrast it needs to be interesting.

I'm not doing any more than this, I'm just trying to make it presentable for auction. Its a country auction local to me here, sold some coins last friday and was shocked at what they were willing to pay me.. Seems if its an old silver coin they have never seen, the money can be good..

 

[Gare]

Some VERY GOOD Cleaning tips. Thanks ALL

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Electrolysis or Ultra Sonic for sure.

 

[Trezurehunter]

I personally do not do anything more to my silvers than clean them with water. I like to leave them as they came out of the ground (except to get the dirt off with the water) because I think it gives every coin a little character and I can remember it better that way when they are not cleaned excessively. Everyone has their own opinions, that's just how I treat my silvers.

 

[ToddsPoint]

Very few people collected coins before the 1900s. It was mostly rich eccentrics before then. By the 20s, collecting was growing and old silver and many gold coins were typically “dipped” to clean them. That was standard practice for many yrs. Then suddenly cleaning silver or any coins really was a no no. The grading services now distinguish between cleaned and original. Coins that come out of the ground seldom will grade. If they do put them in a slab they are often labeled with “environmental damage”. The exceptions would be extremely rare or extremely old coins. For more common dug coins, I doubt you would effect the value at all by cleaning with non harsh methods. Harsh cleaning is never good.