frustrated with cookie coins

[ceejay64]

i found these 2 cookies some time ago, and they have been soaking in olive oil for over a year now with little to show for it. they are just slightly larger in circumference than a modern nickle, but much thinner (even with the crust on). i can see no areas of detail to help with an i.d.
if anyone has any thoughts on what they might be or how to more effectively get them cleaned up and out of their cookie prisons, i'd love to hear from you!!
if it's of any assistance, they were both found in NH - one on the grounds of the university in durham and the other in what is now a small park in farmington.
thanks in advance!!

 

[mfitzy111]

boil up some hydrogen peroxide and drop them in. it should sizzle all the bio matter off- and leave only metal. I've had mixed results with this...I've got three wheaties soaking for a few days now... good luck... and I want to keep watching for ideas because i'm sure I'll end up with some cookies of my own...

 

[SeaninNH]

Yup, warm peroxide bath and a wooden toothpick.

Heat, soak, pick and repeat.

 

[rottonr]

Are they magnetic?

 

[ceejay64]

yes - both are magnetic...

 

[High Plains Digger]

1. Being magnetic tells you a lot.

2. Microwaves are perfectly designed for heating peroxide.

3. Don't get it too hot---if you super heat it, there will be lots of overkill and dangerous splatter.

4. That previous post should have read: repeat, repeat, and repeat. Then repeat some more.

 

[DevilDog812]

also- since it is magnetic- you might want to try electrolysis

 

[underarock]

did you say a year in olive oil?

 

[High Plains Digger]

I have some Roman coins that I have had in olive oil for 2 1/2 years and they haven't improved a bit. There comes a point.......
Another batch has been in oil since Christmas. Have to check that one soon.

 

[adventureswithjim]

maybe '43 wheaties that have just ballooned up in size with all the crust? Just an off the wall thought...they are magnetic after all.

 

[ceejay64]

the hydrogen peroxide isn't even bubbling... should i be seeing that?

 

[steelheadwill]

The peroxide only burns out organic matter, if it's not bubbling when you first put the cookie in, it's not accomplishing anything.
often there is just a blank inside, others may have nice coins.
Magnetic? ferrous coins are a rare species
When I get one of these, I put it in boiling water, then drop it in ice water,
if I can't start a chip off the edge with thumb & forefinger after this, I repeat the process, heating it over a gas flame, you may hear the crust crack while heating.
when I've removed the crust from the edges, I try to carefully pry the entire face off with a thin bladed knife.
whatever intact metal that remains inside, will remain.
You gotta decide whether your satisfied leaving it as a cookie, setting up electrolosis, (which would require chipping an edge to make a connection)
the hot/cold treatment, or whatever else may work.
Here's my best returns from this process, both were totally crusted, I believe this method is kinder to detail than acidic chemicals.
Think about this before trying, I can only say that I am the first to post this idea, and it works well for me.\
interested to hear about what is inside these ferrous cookies!

 

[rottonr]

What makes you think they are cookie coins and not electrical knock out plugs, or someting like that? I ask because I have always assumed my finds like that are junk and I toss them, I don't want to toss good stuff.

 

[steelheadwill]

What makes you think they are cookie coins and not electrical knock out plugs, or someting like that? I ask because I have always assumed my finds like that are junk and I toss them, I don't want to toss good stuff.

A reasonable assumption considering they are magnetic....
the cookies you assumed were junk were magnetic I hope.
One cookie I found was a 1620s 4 Reale

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Cookies!!

 

[steelheadwill]

Cookies!!

Great Stuff! I remember his crumbs flying

 

[petersra]

You may find the contents of this website to be useful if you decide to go the electrolysis route of consering your cookies. http://nautarch.tamu.edu/crl/conservationmanual/File13.htm#ELECTROLYTIC REDUCTION HH, Ralph PS. I used an old cell phone charger as my power source, and cut a piece of junk stainless steel for my annode.

 

[BobinSouthVA]

You may find the contents of this website to be useful if you decide to go the electrolysis route of consering your cookies. http://nautarch.tamu.edu/crl/conservationmanual/File13.htm#ELECTROLYTIC REDUCTION HH, Ralph PS. I used an old cell phone charger as my power source, and cut a piece of junk stainless steel for my annode.

Thanks for the link, that looks like a great site with alot of information.

Why are there three alligator clips on your arrangement? I only have a postive and negative.

And I hope you didn't accidentally erase some photos with your electrolysis setup, all you pics are titled "Deanna Birthday Party"

 

[fistfulladirt]

You have to do the hot peroxide before the olive oil soak, the peroxide can't cut the oil.

 

[High Plains Digger]

Hey Steelheadwill: Just wondering, what ferrous magnetic coins have you found that were worth all the effort you mentioned?

I have one seemingly 1943 penny, but no hope of any actual verification. I have some zincs that the bank wouldn't even buy, and those probably after only a couple of years.