green silver today

[B|lker]

I visited an old store/ gas station setting on stones for a foundation today that i`d been to before, finding only one silver quarter around the perimeter of the building.

Today i went back and the store had been moved, meaning no bulldozer marks. The dirt beneath it included old oil cans, wooden ice cream scoops, old car parts and broken bottles everywhere.

Running in all metal mode i dug everything with my ACE 250 around the trash that rang good and ended up with 2 wheat pennies from the early 40`s, 5 quarters dating from 1939 to 43 and 1, my first, walker half dated 1941. (No mint marks are visible

Other items from the site included shotgun shell bases and part of a pocket watch.

What do you suppose could have caused such a green patina on these silver coins that would make me put them in my clad bag and not a special pocket i had sewn into my underwear for just such an occasion

I have only one idea as to a cleaning method and that is the good old tumbler.

Keep them coils swinging guys and gals and HH.
BILL in central NC.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

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

[Iron Patch]

I'd go with a lemon juice soak and see how they do. It will cut through that pretty easy. (You'll be very surprised)

 

[treasurefiend]

Great hunting, congrats!!! Who knows what chemicals that site has in its ground, I don't think gasoline, deasel or motor oil would make them turn green. None of them are rare dates so I say tumble them if soap and warm water doesn't do the trick.

 

[B|lker]

Thanks for your reply`s Iron patch and Treasurefiend i`ll try the lemon juice before the tumbler.

 

[rwsnc]

Since you found them in an old gas station and there were many rusted oil cans in the area, my guess is that the coins are covered with rust from the cans or other metal in the near vicinity.

After you have confirmed that there are NO key dates and decide that you just want to clean them up, I'd either put them in a tumbler or try the vinegar solution... http://www.ehow.com/how_4464627_remove-rust-silver-coins.html . I've also seen coke or some other soda used too.

Good luck,
Bob

 

[Texasgopher]

Man, those are some great finds. I like the story too. Makes me want to go hunt the old gas station I found near here that I just haven't gotten around to yet.



TG

 

[CMDiamonddawg]

Gas station 8) That is a great story . No doubt , they were out in the weather . Nice hunt , great finds

 

[Deepdiger60]

Nice finds all the methods mentioned work lemon juice works great if that dont work try white vinegar and a little baking soda soak for awhile and use a soft tooth brush if needed . Good hunt Dd60

 

[Iron Patch]

Nice finds all the methods mentioned work lemon juice works great if that dont work try white vinegar and a little baking soda soak for awhile and use a soft tooth brush if needed . Good hunt Dd60

Lemon juice will work. They'll still be grey, but definitely look like a silver coin with no crud.

 

[B|lker]

Nice finds all the methods mentioned work lemon juice works great if that dont work try white vinegar and a little baking soda soak for awhile and use a soft tooth brush if needed . Good hunt Dd60

Lemon juice will work. They'll still be grey, but definitely look like a silver coin with no crud.

Thanks for your replys everyone, Deepdigger and Iron Patch i`ll try the lemon juice bath first and then the baking soda trick.

Thanks for looking everyone and your reply`s
BILL

 

[Iron Patch]

Nice finds all the methods mentioned work lemon juice works great if that dont work try white vinegar and a little baking soda soak for awhile and use a soft tooth brush if needed . Good hunt Dd60

Lemon juice will work. They'll still be grey, but definitely look like a silver coin with no crud.

Thanks for your replys everyone, Deepdigger and Iron Patch i`ll try the lemon juice bath first and then the baking soda trick.

Thanks for looking everyone and your reply`s
BILL

Just keep that trick to common silver, silly rabbit.

 

[HCW]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was battery acid for the most part among other things that caused that green.

 

[B|lker]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was battery acid for the most part among other things that caused that green.

Thanks HCW i never thought of that

Iron Patch the lemon juice worked great on the half which i`ll keep.
There`s still some purple left on them.

Still soaking in vinegar and baking soda hasn`t helped yet.

Should i try good old toothpaste?

Thanks for everyone`s comments.
See pic after lemon juice.

Bill

 

[Iron Patch]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was battery acid for the most part among other things that caused that green.

Thanks HCW i never thought of that

Iron Patch the lemon juice worked great on the half which i`ll keep.
There`s still some purple left on them.

Still soaking in vinegar and baking soda hasn`t helped yet.

Should i try good old toothpaste?

Thanks for everyone`s comments.
See pic after lemon juice.

Bill

If it were me I would stop where you are now. The dark grey quarters would probably be near impossible to clean without ruining them, and the purple is a chemical reaction that would also be tough to deal with and not further damage the coins. If you leave them in a short time you'll accept them for what they are, and it won't really bother you.

 

[CheetahCats]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was battery acid for the most part among other things that caused that green.

Thanks HCW i never thought of that

Iron Patch the lemon juice worked great on the half which i`ll keep.
There`s still some purple left on them.

Still soaking in vinegar and baking soda hasn`t helped yet.

Should i try good old toothpaste?

Thanks for everyone`s comments.
See pic after lemon juice.

Bill

Hi Bill -

The Walker is an approx $9 specimen, and it is a nice specimen. IMO further dipping will not make any difference - as from looking at the surface of the specimen it is apparent that it has been cleaned. That said, I would never use toothpaste or any other abrasive - even mild abrasive like toothpaste - to clean a specimen.

 

[Brian(upstateNY-Central Fla.)]

Nice old silver there ya did great

 

[Monty]

When I find old tarnished silver I drop them in pure white vinegar with a piece of aluminum foil. The dark stuff goes away but will leave them looking sandpapered if left in too long. Monty

 

[Mirage]

Bill,
Very nice score for you. Exciting to find all that silver in one hunt.

Bob