How do you clean encrusted coins?

[Deese]

I found the two oldest coins I have ever found today,an indian head cent,and what I think is a large cent.The large cent was in a gravel wash and in encrusted so badly that all I can make out is part of the date,part of the face and some stars around the perimeter.How do you go about cleaning coins like this?

 

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[coin finder]

Hi Just send them to me .. I all so can not read the years on a coin that has been in the water or the sand. I Just keep them, I may but them in mt Tumber and see. it may work. Coin finder

 

[mlayers]

Try soaking in Olive oil this will take some time to get it off may have to soak for a week just take it out now and then and rub it and look to see how it is doing,. If you have a tumbler put in in for short periods of time and try that. Just have to work with it and see how it goes....Matt

 

[Deese]

The mystery coin turned out to be a v nickel. 189? still cant make out the 4th digit. I cleaned it by soaking in vinegar,took about a day and a half.Still has some staining,but you can make out most of the detail.I'm happy about this weekend its the first coins to come out of this site,only junk and relics until now.I know where to focus now.

 

[rjw4law]

Soft bristle tooth brush,