what do you think the best way to clean coins?

[skatergod6262]

what do you think the best way to clean coins? just wondering

 

[Sylth]

Rule of thumb is to NOT clean coins.

Personally, though, I use an ultrasonic cleaner. Water and vibrations make that dirt come off great. For corrosion, though, Ive heard electrolosys (sp?) works well. Though I don't use it, Ive read of plenty of people here that do and can give you opinions on it.

 

[Iron Patch]

what do you think the best way to clean coins? just wondering

Case by case basis. It's like saying my car is broken, how do I fix it?

 

[sniffer]

if the coin is an unknown go slow and nontoxic, if it doesn't have much value electrolysis is an option

 

[grasshopper]

what kind of coins are you thinking about cleaning?

silver, i'd just try some soap and water w/ a toothbrush.

clad, you can tumble them in a rock tumbler.

and like others said, electrolosys works well for crusty coins.

 

[CRUSADER]

what do you think the best way to clean coins? just wondering

Case by case basis. It's like saying my car is broken, how do I fix it?

I agree.

 

[Roadquest]

Olive Oil the best way to go, and not damage your coin.

 

[sniffer]

the only problem with olive oil, when you soak it, the coin absorbs the oil, making hard to clean by other methods

 

[SwampHunter]

I have tried Olive Oil and Hydrogen Peroxide on my copper coins. I tried the Olive Oil first and soaked them for months. It's a mistake that I wish I could take back. It didn't hurt the coins, but didn't help them either. The thing I didn't like about it is that I can't clean them by another method none too easy. I tried the peroxide on a crudy looking wheat penny and it worked great, but this one wasn't soaked in Olive Oil. The ones that were soaked in Olive Oil will not clean up good using the Peroxide.

One of these years I will try electrolysis.

 

[UnEarthed72]

Welcome to Tnet,

most of my finds i first try cleaning them with a toothbrush and some warm soapy water..when i got it as best i can using that method.

if it needs further cleaning i will get a wide bottom bowl,put some aluminum foil in the shiny side up(enough to come to the top of the bowl)..make sure foil it completely flat/smooth at the bottom of the bowl(any foil raised up will leave a line on coin surface that's touching it)..so smooth it out best you can with fingers

Next i use filtered water and baking soda......sprinkle some baking soda in bowl(enough so it covers foil in bottom of the bowl)..

place coins/items you want to clean in the bowl atop baking soda(leaving a space between each one..never mix metal types)...

now heat enough filtered water in microwave until it gets super hot and boiling....

sprinkle more baking soda on the top of the items to be cleaned,and slowly pour in boiling water and let set until water cools....

use toothbrush dipped in a bit of baking soda to get loose crud off...

rinse with warm soapy water and repeat process(new foil and all) until you get desired look


i find that this method is very safe and end result looks much better than when you began


NOTE: letting Indian head pennies and the like sit in oil under a low wattage lamp for a day or two works really well on those type metals,pick crud off with toothpick..leaves patina intact with no harm done to coin

hope this helps

Shawn

 

[Iron Patch]

what do you think the best way to clean coins? just wondering

Case by case basis. It's like saying my car is broken, how do I fix it?

I agree.

Should we say it again?

 

[Eu_citzen]

For light cleaning I use baking soda with water.
For very crusted coins I use a light acid solution. (vinegar spread out with water)
When done I put it in baking soda with water to neutralize the acid.
For modern coins I like to use the tumbler with saw dust and cerium oxide to get a higher polish after acid treatment.

 

[UnEarthed72]

For light cleaning I use baking soda with water.
For very crusted coins I use a light acid solution. (vinegar spread out with water)
When done I put it in baking soda with water to neutralize the acid.
For modern coins I like to use the tumbler with saw dust and cerium oxide to get a higher polish after acid treatment.


what is cerium oxide?

 

[allen]

same thing iron patch said...

 

[Eu_citzen]

For light cleaning I use baking soda with water.
For very crusted coins I use a light acid solution. (vinegar spread out with water)
When done I put it in baking soda with water to neutralize the acid.
For modern coins I like to use the tumbler with saw dust and cerium oxide to get a higher polish after acid treatment.


what is cerium oxide?

http://www.facetingmachines.com/polishes.shtml

Used to give some rocks a high polish.

 

[UnEarthed72]

For light cleaning I use baking soda with water.
For very crusted coins I use a light acid solution. (vinegar spread out with water)
When done I put it in baking soda with water to neutralize the acid.
For modern coins I like to use the tumbler with saw dust and cerium oxide to get a higher polish after acid treatment.


what is cerium oxide?

http://www.facetingmachines.com/polishes.shtml

Used to give some rocks a high polish.

thanks for the info

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

Hey,

I use a dry brush on Buffalo's ,(they turn red with water in most cases) I use a potato for pennies, (stick them in the potato for 24 hours) I just rinse the silver with water and my finger. (seems to be less corrosive than any cloth or brush)

Each person tends to have their own little ways to clean their coins. The Idea of - NOT CLEANING - is the best Idea and comes from destroying the value of a valuable coin by cleaning it. So don't ever clean a coin you feel is really valuable.

Keep @ it and HH!!

 

[Don in SJ]

If a ground found copper is not cleaned, a lot of times you do not know what you have, might know what the coin is, but not be able to attribute the variety, which means you could have a very common one or a very rare coin.

Also proper cleaning and preservation stops any possible further damage from corrosion/trapped moisture.

See signature below.

Don

 

[BuckleBoy]

Please read the threads in the cleaning and preservation forum on this site.