How do you remove soil from copper coins with green patina?

[vince76]

Hello guys.
I usually find copper coins with a nice green patina but sometimes the soil is attacked and very difficult to remove it.
Do you have any idea how to remove the soil.

The first are two dirty coins and i tried to clean the big one.


The second is a clean one. I haven't clean it at all.


Thank You

 

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[enamel7]

Acetone bath will lossen dirt and stop the verdigris from spreading.

 

[dejapooh]

I understand that soaking it in Olive Oil will help (not sure Popeye will like that much). I understand it may take weeks for the crud to loosen.

 

[Ahab8]

I would not recommend the olive oil. It's dark and it will leach out of the coin for years. If you go the oil route mineral oil is much more pure and much lighter. I personally use peroxide because here on the coast of Maine we get a hard crust normally. I warm the peroxide and put the coin in. I then leave the coin in (sometimes for days). I continue to check it once in awhile. I will take a super soft toothbrush and gently try it to see if the crust or dirt has loosened. It's worked well for me. I have learned one thing. If a copper coin is solid you won't hurt it. If it's got corrosion you likely won't be able to improve it. This is an indian head that I used hp on

 

[vince76]

I'm going to try it! The result on your coin looks great.

 

[vince76]

A question. What is the % of the one that u use. Can u check it for me? Thank u

 

[Ahab8]

I'm going to try it! The result on your coin looks great.

Fair warning Vince. It's not always going to be a nicely detailed copper underneath but I've messed around with a lot of them and my best results have been from the hp. The stuff I use is 3%. Good luck buddy

 

[vince76]

Ahab, it works great

 

[Ahab8]

Ahab, it works great

I'm glad it worked for you buddy. You will hear several different methods but that's the only one that I've had consistent results with. I have learned that a coin is either solid underneath or its corroded. If it's corroded you're fighting a losing battle. If it's solid the hp won't hurt it a bit and will remove as much of the unwanted surface crap as possible. Cheers

 

[vince76]

The first coin was not corroded but the patina was not a perfect one. The green patina depends on the soil where the coin has been left. The others were perfect. Have a look. [emoji106]

 

[vince76]

 

[Ahab8]

The first coin was not corroded but the patina was not a perfect one. The green patina depends on the soil where the coin has been left. The others were perfect. Have a look. [emoji106]

Very nice result Vince. They look great