Please help me!

scavengor · Oct 28, 2012

Whats the best way to clean very old rare and valuable coins and relic. Please don't advise me not to clean them cause I have to to id them. Was told years ago to just use olive oil but got some some stuff in olive oil for 10 years now and no cleaner. Please help in this matter and thanks in advance.

Calvin.Coin · Oct 28, 2012

This is one of the most comprehensive coin cleaning guides around...

Coin Cleaning and Preservation - A Complete Guide

cheers,
cc

spartacus53 · Oct 29, 2012

Get a cheap rock tumbler and beat the crap off of them :icon_thumright:

Mzjavert · Oct 29, 2012

If I remember this episode correctly he used olive oil and an ultrasonic cleaner. Listen to the show!

Episode 45
[FONT=MS Serif, New York, serif]August 24th 2012[/FONT][FONT=Palatino Linotype, Book Antiqua, Palatino, serif]
On this episode of The Coin Show Matt talks to us about processing uncleaned ancient coins and Mike talks about the Rise and Fall of the Carson City Mint. we also discuss The Coolest Thing to walk into Matt's store this summer and give you a take on the news in the world of coins that you'll only get on The Coin Show.[/FONT][FONT=Palatino Linotype, Book Antiqua, Palatino, serif]Enjoy!

[/FONT]

Tom_in_CA · Oct 30, 2012

reply

scavengor said:
Whats the best way to clean very old rare and valuable coins and relic. Please don't advise me not to clean them cause I have to to id them. Was told years ago to just use olive oil but got some some stuff in olive oil for 10 years now and no cleaner. Please help in this matter and thanks in advance.

Get a petri dish or small shot-glass. Boil a few tablespoons full of hydrogen peroxide in the microwave oven (about 10 or 15 seconds for a few tablespoons). Drop the coin or item in. Take out, rub accordingly, repeat at necessary.

spartacus53 · Oct 31, 2012

Tom_in_CA said:
Get a petri dish or small shot-glass. Boil a few tablespoons full of hydrogen peroxide in the microwave oven (about 10 or 15 seconds for a few tablespoons). Drop the coin or item in. Take out, rub accordingly, repeat at necessary.

Just remember not to dip your fingers in that concoction right away either, you'll probably get burnt :tongue3:

Silver Searcher · Oct 31, 2012

scavengor said:
Whats the best way to clean very old rare and valuable coins and relic. Please don't advise me not to clean them cause I have to to id them. Was told years ago to just use olive oil but got some some stuff in olive oil for 10 years now and no cleaner. Please help in this matter and thanks in advance.

It all depends if there is anything left on the items to be cleaned, some times a lot of detail can hide behind the crud, outher times disaster waits for you. Best to determine what the find is worth, before you attempt any cleaning.

SS

TNGUNS · Oct 31, 2012

Hey Spatacus53.....fess up.....said from experience. I bet with your reserved and introverted personality you didn't even say a bad word. I am not laughing at the mental picture.....really I'm not :laughing7:

. Always love how you TRULY struggle too be good when someone ask a not so bright question so had to take a little POKE at ya......Always enjoy your post and keep up the misbehavior. :icon_thumleft:

spartacus53 · Oct 31, 2012

TNGUNS, Sorry, but I just call em as I see em :tongue3:

P.S. There is never a struggle, inane comments come naturally to me :laughing7:

TNGUNS · Oct 31, 2012

spatacus53.....there is no doubt you call em like ya see em......usually results in me LMAO. Always enjoy your comments. I would say" be good and talk to ya soon", but in your case" talk to ya soon" is more realistic. :icon_salut:

stefen · Oct 31, 2012

spartacus53 said:
Get a cheap rock tumbler and beat the crap off of them

As an alternative, a mini-sandblaster for spark plugs works wonders...be sure to use fractured silica sand...

Gives coins a satin finish thats highly sought after... :icon_thumright:

scavengor · Oct 31, 2012

Its great that TNGUNS and spartacus53 is getting along better and all that but really I'm needing advise on how to clean my rare finds. So far everything I'm hear I have tried and just doesn't work. Please someone come forth with cool secret way of cleaning.

spartacus53 · Oct 31, 2012

scavengor, well zippy... Have you tried the rock tumbler yet :dontknow:

Many here use that little gem to clean their finds..

If you did and it didn't work, I'd suggest trying to dump that coin at your nearest coin star :icon_thumright:

Calvin.Coin · Oct 31, 2012

scavengor said:
Its great that TNGUNS and spartacus53 is getting along better and all that but really I'm needing advise on how to clean my rare finds. So far everything I'm hear I have tried and just doesn't work. Please someone come forth with cool secret way of cleaning.

There was plenty of good advice that *does* work...you just don't want to hear it. So since you're really just looking for an easy way where you can sit back and relax (as evidenced by soaking in olive oil for a decade) just send 'em to me and I'll take care of them!

peace,
cc

New Orleans Relic · Oct 31, 2012

TNGUNS said:
spatacus53.....there is no doubt you call em like ya see em......usually results in me LMAO. Always enjoy your comments. I would say" be good and talk to ya soon", but in your case" talk to ya soon" is more realistic.

Another Smart Spart fan. Who would have thunk it? What's this world comming to? I too would shake his hand, though....................Then armwrestle....LOL
Ray

scavengor · Nov 1, 2012

Just two words for you guys "over cleaning" and everything I hear so far will do that. Trust me I might be new to this forum but I'm not new to this hobbie and I have done all of them with devastating results. I mean no disrespect to anyone here. I think I'll keep soaking in olive oil till some new way is developed to clean them. I do think someone knows away now but won't come forward. So please come forward do the right thing!

YoungBlood · Nov 1, 2012

I don't know if anyone said this but for medium sized CHEAP relics just put some vinegar in a gal. sized bucket of water.
P.S. Depending on relic guesstimate how much vinegar and you will be able to see when to take it out.

Calvin.Coin · Nov 1, 2012

scavengor said:
...clip...Please someone come forth with cool secret way of cleaning...clip... I do think someone knows away now but won't come forward. So please come forward do the right thing!

Psssst! Over here....sssshhh! You mustn't let *them* intercept this message. Your secret handshake was hard to recognize in text format so a smokescreen was deployed. Now that it is obvious that you are on the same page, I can only reveal that there *is* indeed a member on these very forums who knows a highly guarded secret method of restoring the lost luster to corroded relics! Problem is that the person is not very nice and doesn't play well with others. Still, if you can ferret 'em out, you might be able to twist out some knowledge.

Until then, another ten years in olive oil surely should have some effect...

peace,
cc

Dixiegal · Nov 1, 2012

If you believe the coins are that valuable pay to have them professionally cleaned. Go on any coin auction site and look at the $1,000 coins that are now $50 due to improper cleaning. It will say that right by the picture of the coin.

spartacus53 · Nov 1, 2012

Like Silver Searcher said, find the value first, then decide your appropriate action.

In if it has a great value, you'll spend more time researching who'll be willing to pay for it in any condition :tongue3: