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 Replies: 14 / Views: 9,063 |
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Valued Member
Canada
242 Posts |
Does anyone have a strong opinion whether lemon juice (20% lemon juice, 80% distilled water) can hurt pure silver coins?
I've been told that the patina will be lost; however, from one website it looks as though the patina can be recreated again easily enough with liver of sulphate (or at least 'a' patina...though not necessarily the same as the original I guess).
I have some partially cleaned pure silver ancient coins I was thinking of letting soak overnight.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2563 Posts |
But, it will be called Artificial Toning, which is very close to cleaning. I would not use any kind of substance on silver coins.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1158 Posts |
It's acid, it will eat off a layer of metal and dirt alike. Recreating patina is more of an art, it's not like a 1-2-3 process with totally predictable results.
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
I've used it on badly encrusted silver with fairly good results, You just can't leave in in very long.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2100 Posts |
I have only ever attempted to clean a silver coin in this manner. This was a mild acid solution which was gently rubbed using s soft nylon brush and a softened wooden toothpick in selected areas. Here are the results:- Before cleaning the coin was toned to black and had large areas of encrustation.  Part way through the cleaning process the black patination has gone and the encrustations have reduced.  This is where I stopped the cleaning process.  Martin |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4973 Posts |
oh wow, that's awesome cleaning martin.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2100 Posts |
This coin was sold to me as a limes denarius. I was fairly convinced that it was silver but wasn't sure until I got it home and performed some experimental scraping on the egde. The whole process took about 4 days of soaking, scrubbing, soaking etc.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3098 Posts |
I've used lemon juice to clean ancient coins that are fairly heavily encrusted and have had no problems with it at all. I don't soak for long, use a brush with silver bristles to clean them and put them in distilled water between soaks in lemon juice.
Paul Bulgerin
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Pillar of the Community
917 Posts |
Quote:
use a brush with silver bristles to clean them  |
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
183 Posts |
I think the black coin had more detail in the part of the
angels eyes
HH
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2100 Posts |
The detail on the eyes of Victory is still there but not as pronounced due to the lighting.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
I saw the "sad face" after my reference to using a brush with silver bristles. This doesn't harm the coin. It's a special brush made specifically for silver coins. The bristles are quite soft, don't affect the surface of the silver and it is very good for loosening up dirt in protected areas of the coin.
I've used it for ten years and have always been happy with the results.
Paul Bulgerin
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Valued Member
 Canada
242 Posts |
Thanks for all of the tips and insight... I'm trying lemon juice on a few pure silver coins now, but I forgot to take 'before' pictures. I'm basically just trying it on coins that were particularly encrusted. As far as I can tell, citric acid should not react with pure silver, at least not over a short period of time.
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Valued Member
United States
61 Posts |
Er, Paul, there's no such thing as a metal bristle brush made specifically for silver coins. If it was sold to you as such then you got scammed as it will absolutely, positively scratch the coin. Even a nylon brush will leave hairline scratches. Don't take my word for it. Try a toothbrush on a cheap proof silver bullion coin.
Ras
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
Ras, good to see you on the list.
You're right about the silver brush. That was my poor choice of words. It's not made for silver coins, but I have used it for the last ten years and have been happy with the results.
Paul Bulgerin
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Replies: 14 / Views: 9,063 |
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Posted 07/16/2014 8:13 pm
