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 Replies: 19 / Views: 4,112 |
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Moderator
 United States
16679 Posts |
If I used distilled water in combo with the soft toothbrush, would that be okay to remove dirt residue from a couple dark IHC's? I'd rather not leave the dirt residue on them, but does not seem to come off with just a rinse or soak. Thoughts? swcoin.ecrater.com
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5953 Posts |
I use an ultra sonic jewelry cleaner..
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Pillar of the Community
United States
580 Posts |
I would think the toothbrush would leave bristle marks. I heard of others using q-tips. Interested is seeing what others say.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3345 Posts |
Depends-what kind of dates are we talkin here dude?
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Moderator
 United States
16679 Posts |
Ahh..now to the nitty gritty. 1903, 1908-S....that's why I'm asking. Not exactly a common IHC. Kinda like Richards idea...how much are those? swcoin.ecrater.com
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5953 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
I would not use any kind of brush and a Q-tip will only drag the dirt across the coin I would think and that dirt will scratch the surface.
I sometimes have really good results with a soaked round toothpick to push dirt out in lettering. Maybe while you are soaking the coins in distilled water, throw in a few round toothpicks and let them get soft. Use a magnifying glass and dig and push trapped dirt out of those area that dirt lingers.
Do it gently as the trapped debris may be harsher on a coins surface than the soft wood tip.
Metal is harder than a soggy toothpick so if you do this carefully it probably will work sometimes.
I would not try this with a high value coin though.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
vermontensium: As you well know, we don't clean coins.
Sometimes when all else fails, ya gotta do what ya gotta do!
When a copper coin is as dark as you have indicated, some of that darkness needs to be lessened just to see the coin at all.
I have vigorously rubbed coins such as this with wet fingers and soap and water, but the high points in the detail loose their patina first, with not necessarily the best results. This method MAY help, if used judiciously.
LTmets44 may wery well be right. The only way to find out is to test these methods on cheaper coins, which also may help develop your technique.
I have even used a pin, applying pressure ONLY, (NOT scraping), to pop verdigris lumps off a copper coin.
If you have been around coins for many years, it is now time to rely on your own judgement and skill. Ya makes ya decision, and ya runs with it.
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Moderator
United States
16679 Posts |
Ha!
Both coins have been permanently changed to a dark brown due to being in the ground for a long time. That I will not change. Surprisingly, there appears to be little corrosion on each.
Yeah, the 1908-S will NOT be the test piece :-)
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
Wouldn't knowing the composition of the dirt determine the cleaning method? I'd take a look through a microscope before doing anything. Maybe you've already done that. I find that the coins that were dirty from being in circulation have greasy dirt and that the ones I dug up in my yard tend to have tiny crystaline bits that I am sure would cause scratches.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4132 Posts |
I used a soft toothbrush once on a nearly BU 1960something penny I found that had some crud on it when I first started roll searching. It left brush marks. So I would say no for any coin with value. Even if the brush isn't abrasive, the crud probably is.
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Moderator
United States
16679 Posts |
Very good point Buddy. Dirt has micro bits of minerals like quartz and such...no, I don't have a microscope but this looks light tan in color and dusty looking. I did find them in the desert.
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Valued Member
United States
193 Posts |
Has anyone ever tried letting the coin sit under a trickle of water for a long period of time?
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Valued Member
United States
193 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
193 Posts |
Sorry that was meant for another thread. And can't seem to delete
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
I have coins that need cleaning -- I can't even read the years on some because of the dirt. So I have been trying to find information about cleaning...and I'm not talking about polishing or anything.
What we need is an itty bitty vacuum with a lot of power.
Anyway, I think that what is needed is the patience of an acheologist and maybe some of their tools. I figure that at some point acheologists have dug up coins and sent them along to a museum conservator...so what do they do to remove the dirt? Time to hit the web.
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Replies: 19 / Views: 4,112 |
Posted 10/15/2011 10:18 pm
