Coin Cleaning
I have a couple of questions? These are honest questions as I really don't know.
Is it OK to clean your coins with mild soap and water? I have some coins found in change from stores that were dirty so I used hand soap and water to clean them. Is this OK?
I remember back in high school, my old Taco Bell days, that we use to take old dirty pennies and put them in a packet of hot sauce, let them sit for 24 hours or so and then walla, clean shiny pennies. Is this bad or could I do this with old coins that lack luster? It just a mild acid in the tomato sauce. Does this affect the coins value and is it considered and unacceptable way to shine them up?
Thanks for your time.
Patrick
Is it OK to clean your coins with mild soap and water? I have some coins found in change from stores that were dirty so I used hand soap and water to clean them. Is this OK?
I remember back in high school, my old Taco Bell days, that we use to take old dirty pennies and put them in a packet of hot sauce, let them sit for 24 hours or so and then walla, clean shiny pennies. Is this bad or could I do this with old coins that lack luster? It just a mild acid in the tomato sauce. Does this affect the coins value and is it considered and unacceptable way to shine them up?
Thanks for your time.
Patrick
Views: 67
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by RSF on -
Cleaning dirty circulated coins is doing a service to society, but not to your coin collection. Cleaning a coin will almost always undermine its value. Giving a truly grimey low-value coin its "coinhood" back can serve as a filler in your collection until you find a replacement in a natural state.
Your technique for shiny pennies is probably a notch or two above using a pencil eraser, but not recommended. As for old coins that lack luster - I have gotten better results and prefer Old El Paso mild.
-
Permalink Reply by Clair Alan Hardesty on -
Clearly, usint the hot sauce is no different than using a dedicated cleansing product, it is an acid and it modifies the coin. Don't do it if you care about the value of the coin. As for the soap and water, lose the soap, and just soak the coins in clear water for a time, then rinse with more clear water (distilled or de-ionized is best) then pat dry with a coin safe cloth. Never rub coins or subject them to any substance that modifies the metal in any way. If a coin is of true value, have it restored by a professional who knows how to remove the foreign material without touching the coin metal.
Clair
-
Permalink Reply by Frank Charly on -
How abiut Paul Newman's marinara sauce?
-
Permalink Reply by Darla on -
I cringed when I saw the ad for Kaboom... The sight of Billy Mays dunking a Lincoln penny into that solution was horrifying! You can dip the coins in a product called Jewel Luster.. it's for cleaning jewlery... then dip it into some clear water and leave it to dry or pat it dry... NEVER, EVER ... and I mean EVER rub the coins with ANY kind of cloth!!!!!
Patina does not detract from the value, nor does toning.. in fact, some collectors actually prefer coins with toning...
Have a great day!
-
Permalink Reply by Frank Charly on
-
Now I am serious. I have some fine Stuben crystal scuptures. Periodically, I will wash them in a mild solution of ammonia and distilled water. I only handle them with pure silk. The ammonia removes any form of grease emanating from the kitchen. The silk minimizes the chance of scratching. I also have an antique bronze scupture,which you never want to affect the patina. The only thing I will do is blow on it to remove the loose dust. When cleaning coins with soap you will leave an oily coating on the coin. Any form of rubbing is going to scratch the surface. Whether it be cleaning crystal, bronze, or coins, if they have value don't do it.
-
Permalink Reply by BRYAN on -
The only way I ever clean a coin is by soaking it in OLIVE OIL!! For some coins found with a metal detector or in a basement/attic and are really "aged", you may have to soak for up to a year or better!! I find that the olive oil will lift the "shmegma" off the coin and keep it off. As everyone else said, you NEVER wipe or rub the coin but let it drip dry and then set it on a few cotton balls to absorb the last of the olive oil. I was told about this way by several people who "detected"
coins. They would do it this way and then send them for grading and never had a problem. I personaly have never sent any of my "salad coins" in for grading but I have been able to salvage some coins from the 18th,19th,20th centuries and some Roman and Greek coins from the 1st and 2nd centuries!! Of course it's always better to never clean a coin, BUT you will always get some that you just gotta find out the date and this seems to be the best. GOOD LUCK, BRYAN
-
Permalink Reply by Steve W on -
Yea, look what happened to Billy Mays! LOL Rarities need TLC that precludes any cleaning. I have been able to fool PCGS/NGC from time to time, but they caught more than they graded.
Darla said:I cringed when I saw the ad for Kaboom... The sight of Billy Mays dunking a Lincoln penny into that solution was horrifying! You can dip the coins in a product called Jewel Luster.. it's for cleaning jewlery... then dip it into some clear water and leave it to dry or pat it dry... NEVER, EVER ... and I mean EVER rub the coins with ANY kind of cloth!!!!!
Patina does not detract from the value, nor does toning.. in fact, some collectors actually prefer coins with toning...
Have a great day!
-
Permalink Reply by True Money on -
In some severe cases, such as removing a layer to reveal the date, it may be necessary to remove dirt or an area of oxidation. Otherwise, cleaning a coin is simply not an option.
-True Money!
-
Permalink Reply by MinnesotaGuy on -
Sure cleaning a coin is an option, just not a very good one if you plans include it keeping it's value. Hell, he can clean it with acid and a wire brush if he wants.
True Money said:In some severe cases, such as removing a layer to reveal the date, it may be necessary to remove dirt or an area of oxidation. Otherwise, cleaning a coin is simply not an option.
-True Money!
-
Permalink Reply by Lureuin on -
Money- I think MG has a crush on you. He seems to look for your posts so he can respond with his nonsense. Last time I saw boys acting like this was in Elementary School and had a crush on a girl. Not that your a girl, but his maturity level is obviously pre-teen.
-
Permalink Reply by Zyll on -
Lureuin said:Money- I think MG has a crush on you. He seems to look for your posts so he can respond with his nonsense. Last time I saw boys acting like this was in Elementary School and had a crush on a girl. Not that your a girl, but his maturity level is obviously pre-teen.
-
Permalink Reply by True Money on
-
Hahaha! LOL!
-True Money!
Lureuin said:Money- I think MG has a crush on you. He seems to look for your posts so he can respond with his nonsense. Last time I saw boys acting like this was in Elementary School and had a crush on a girl. Not that your a girl, but his maturity level is obviously pre-teen.
© 2012 Created by coinnetwork.
