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 Replies: 41 / Views: 5,953 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1195 Posts |
Quote:
Look as it this way, you will never forget which one your father gave you.  In its present state, you will always be remind of your father when you kook at this coin. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Since it is from your Dad, you really should just keep it the way it is. My Dad is long gone so anything he gave me is something I'll always keep.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1227 Posts |
First things first: I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS CONSIDERED HARMFUL, ASK SOMEONE ELSE FIRST PLEASE! (Yes, please consider that shouted. Along with me frantically waving my hands around and bugging my eyes out to emphasize that I'm kind of talking in the dark here.)
One of the guys I work with is a professional jeweler when he's in work and not in a recession, and his suggestion for my coins (silver and copper both) was . . . .
. . . . Heinz ketchup.
I'm not even kidding. I wouldn't let him near my actual collected pieces, but he found a 1973 penny in his drawer and demonstrated with ketchup and a napkin. He's right--it got the penny clean in a snap--but like I said above PLEASE ASK SOMEONE WHO KNOWS MORE THAN I DO FIRST!! (More frantic handwaving goes here!!)
If you do decide to try this, I'd recommend ketchup first, then rinse with distilled water twice, then a final rinse in acetone. Tomatoes are very acidic (that's why the ancient Romans thought they were poisonous--the acid leached poisonous compounds out of their lead plates, and you can imagine the effects), and you want to be 10000000000% sure that acid does not remain on the coin.
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Valued Member
United States
126 Posts |
NONONO, cleaning coins is one of the worst thing you can do to them. It's a nice looking coin anyway, no need to clean it.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
He is not much of a "professional" if he is making ridiculous suggestions like using ketchup to clean a coin  The acidity of ketchup is not from the tomatoes, it is from the vinegar(acetic acid) that is added to the ketchup. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2295 Posts |
Tomatoes contain ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in them.
I would leave the coin as is. If you don't like the way it looks, sell it for bullion value and buy a nicer one.
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Moderator
 United States
188770 Posts |
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Since it is from your Dad, you really should just keep it the way it is. My Dad is long gone so anything he gave me is something I'll always keep. This.  Personally, I would not take the chance. I have a 1922 Peace dollar from my grandfather (his birth year), originally given to him by his grandmother. He wore it in a belt buckle for years before keeping it in a drawer. He gave it to me a couple of years before he passed. Other than some additional toning, it is exactly as he gave it to me, scratches and all. |
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Valued Member
United States
100 Posts |
That coin is such a common date, I say clean it. I do not clean coins, as I do not have any coins in that bad of shape. Again, it is such a common date.
Clean it and make it look nice for your collection.
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Moderator
United States
188770 Posts |
A common date, maybe, but not really common. In actuality it is unique... Quote:I don't plan on selling this one because it's the first Peace dollar I ever held in my hands, and my father gave it to me so it has sentimental value. At this point, the date (let alone the condition), is irrelevant. With any unique piece, it is best to avoid unnecessary risks. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1227 Posts |
In all fairness, biokemist, he may not have known I was talking about coins older than my grandparents. I collect strictly on an "oooh, SHINY!" basis ("SHINY!" in the internet sense of the word), so "cleaning" could theoretically mean "I got this amazing 2011 coin and there is a spot on it. OUT, OUT, SPOT!" The use of ketchup seemed more like a fun party trick than anything practical, although having come from a theatre background I can tell you that sometimes the ludicrous and inane work far better than the sober and practical (The reaction when I proved that a pair of two-by-fours embedded in attic insulation and burlap and flung down a flight of stairs would mimic the sound of a falling dead body will always be my favourite). So, you know, any port in a storm, worth the suggestion even if only to see jbuck use that frantic screaming-in-circles smiley of his.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
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Clean it and make it look nice for your collection.  doh! No don't clean it! Actually, the scratches are less noticeable with the toning it has, it looks great to me as it is. If you listen to people telling you to clean it, you might as well take a ball peen hammer to it afterwards and flatten it out until all the scratches disappear. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
592 Posts |
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If you listen to people telling you to clean it, you might as well take a ball peen hammer to it afterwards and flatten it out until all the scratches disappear. ... Brilliant! |
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Valued Member
United States
397 Posts |
I'd say don't clean it. Hold on to it as is.
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Valued Member
United States
100 Posts |
I take back my comment.
DO NOT CLEAN it.
I don't know why I said to clean it. Maybe I was drunk when I wrote that.
NEVER clean!
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Moderator
United States
188770 Posts |
Quote:
So, you know, any port in a storm, worth the suggestion even if only to see jbuck use that frantic screaming-in-circles smiley of his.   Good save, Classic_Coin_Guy_661.  |
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Replies: 41 / Views: 5,953 |
First Page
Posted 05/04/2012 6:49 pm
