I need help to not wreck my silver...

[DigToChina]

Had to wade through a ton of foil but ended up having a decent night Friday with two silvers toward the end of my hunt. I swear the kids must have ran up and down this soccer field eating Easter eggs and tossing foil as they went...

I’m pretty happy with the park all the same as I’ve hit silver three of my last four trips. When I hit the first quarter, I was in an area of high foil trash and the signal was all over the place but loud and since I know I’ll be going over the park in another direction eventually, I can dig it now or later...

In the hole was a tombac style nickel (1960) and in the wall was the quarter (1961).


I stood up and within six inches I hit an even worse signal. I’m pretty sure this hole even dug into the previous hole it was so close. Out pops a nickel (1960 again) and a quarter sandwiched together. The quarter looks terrible. The front said silver to me and it wasn’t magnetic but the back is covered in rust. Weird I thought and rescanned the hole and in the plug there was still a nickel sized object but this thing is toasted with rust. Obviously it was sandwiched with the quarter too.



So now I’m sure it’s a ‘68 but how can I clean this? I tried a little vinegar figuring I could use baking soda to clean any tarnish and that got enough off that I could see the partial date but then I chickened out. Help!

 

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[washingtonian]

I’m not sure what to recommend for a cleaning method but great hunt! Gotta love the old silver moose.

 

[Gridwalker306]

Your best bet is to build a very simple electrolysis rig. AC adapter, alligator clips, jar, spoon, water.

 

[DigToChina]

Your best bet is to build a very simple electrolysis rig. AC adapter, alligator clips, jar, spoon, water.

Doesn’t that wreck the spot where the clips go? I’m sure I have some lower voltage AC plugs around...

 

[DigToChina]

Gotta love the old silver moose.

Moose? Sir, you cut me to the quick! While I do approve of the moose’s favourite past time, he just simply has nothing on the animal that can pull a flying sleigh [emoji2932] [emoji318]...

 

[Gridwalker306]

Doesn’t that wreck the spot where the clips go? I’m sure I have some lower voltage AC plugs around...

I guess it’s possible the clips could leave tiny little indents where the teeth touch the coin. I’ve never had an issue with that, and I certainly don’t zap any coins that are rare or valuable.

The thing I like about electrolysis is that you can monitor and stop when you feel it looks good. Especially ones like your quarter that have a nasty patch of black gunk. I prefer my coins to be legible, yet still look like the came from the ground. Not a fan of shiny. You could experiment with a non valuable silver and see what happens. Good luck with what ever method you choose.

 

[CRUSADER]

Lemon Juice for 5 minutes at a time, rinse with nail brush & repeat.

 

[CASPER-2]

Moose? Sir, you cut me to the quick! While I do approve of the moose’s favourite past time, he just simply has nothing on the animal that can pull a flying sleigh [emoji2932] [emoji318]...

View attachment 1718773

 

[CASPER-2]

Canadian Quarters: In 1968, the twenty five cent coin composition was changed from part silver to 100% nickel for the same reason as the dime. It was made of nickel from 1968 until 2000, when its composition was changed to nickel-plated steel (94% steel, 3.8% copper, 2.2% nickel)

 

[CASPER-2]

[h=2]History of composition[edit][/h]

Years	Mass	Diameter/Shape	Composition[SUP][1][/SUP]
2000–present	4.40 g	23.88 mm	94.0% steel (unspecified alloy), 3.8% copper, 2.2% nickel plating
1968–1999	5.05 g	23.88 mm	99.9% nickel
1967–1968	5.83 g	23.88 mm	50% silver, 50% copper
1953–1967	5.83 g	23.88 mm	80% silver, 20% copper
1920–1952	5.83 g	23.62 mm	80% silver, 20% copper
1910–1919	5.83 g	23.62 mm	92.5% silver, 7.5% copper
1908–1910	5.81 g	23.62 mm	92.5% silver, 7.5% copper

 

[DigToChina]

Canadian Quarters: In 1968, the twenty five cent coin composition was changed from part silver to 100% nickel for the same reason as the dime. It was made of nickel from 1968 until 2000, when its composition was changed to nickel-plated steel (94% steel, 3.8% copper, 2.2% nickel)

That is true but in 1968 they did two mintings. The largest was nickel as you point out (~88 million). The other was 50% silver, 50% copper (~71 million). It’s listed in your next post right below the ‘68-‘99 line...

What’s funny is that I was telling Mvgirl less than a month ago on one her posts that I keep finding the nickel ones. It was only a matter of time before I found the other at this park though.

 

[DigToChina]

Lemon Juice for 5 minutes at a time, rinse with nail brush & repeat.

This seemed like the less invasive way to start so I’ve been doing this. I stopped timing five minutes pretty early on and also brushing after the second time as I was worried about abrasion. It’s been soaking pretty much all day yesterday and last night with me checking it often. Looking better but has a little way to go.

Thanks Cru’.

 

[CRUSADER]

No worries

 

[Professor of Engineering]

IMHO: soap and water then use a stiff toothbrush...then lemon juice for a bit and toothbrush....repeat.

 

[basque-man]

Nice group of coins! We use "Tarnex" on normal date coins. Soak for about 5 minutes, soft brush.....Works good on the alkali ground we have here. It really kills our finds in those areas.......

 

[Inspector]

Nice hunt, congrats on all

 

[Mvgirl]

I put tin foil covering a bowel and then baking soda on the bottom. Put your coin in and then cover it with baking soda. Put boiling water on it and wait 20 min. and then rub with a cloth/rub with more soda and then repeat if you want. It works with tarnished silver but I don't know about rust.

 

[DigToChina]

I put tin foil covering a bowel and then baking soda on the bottom. Put your coin in and then cover it with baking soda. Put boiling water on it and wait 20 min. and then rub with a cloth/rub with more soda and then repeat if you want. It works with tarnished silver but I don't know about rust.

Hey Mv,

No idea if the tarnish removing technique would have worked on rust but I have to think Crusader would have suggested that if it would have. I do know that the lemon juice he suggested worked and just finished up today (so four days). It was slow but took the rust that had bonded to it off without any further damage whatsoever. Looks awesome now.

 

[CTXAgGetter]

Mvgirl...
That oughta work, but doesn't the boiling water hurt when you pour it in your...
Oh, wait. That was probably a typo. You meant bowl, I'm guessing.