How Do You Clean This Coin...?

Verdigris is a complex and variable double salt of copper hydroxy carbonate.

Like rust, it builds up in concentrated locations as shown in the picture. It is this variable build-up that makes treatment of verdigris difficult.

Any treatment of verdigris also has to deal with the problem of of it being hydroxide or carbonate rich in varying locations.

If you are able to somewhat successfully treat a verdigris problem, the coin is then best removed to a different the storage environment.

From what I have seen in pictures in the CCF, Verdicare seems th be the best and mildest treatment for coins.

The problem with verdigris is that pitting under the lumps on surface of the coin has already occurred. This problem will continue the get worse until something is done about it.

there are many ways to help this coins that are not acidic! coke or pepsi should not be used IMO.

Well guys...Bottom line I guess is don't clean it (for fear of damage.)

Thanks for the link IBGolden, and every ones input.

NOW I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO CLEAN ANYTHING

I have decided to let mother nature take her course.

What some people don't realise is that a coin will be "cleaned" atleast once in its long long life...whether it was dropped in some dirt and rubbed clean 100 years ago or was in your pocket rubbing against the fabric...the only way a coin may not have been cleaned is if it came straight from the mint, in celophane or a holder and never removed. but if you collect circulation coinage I can almost 100% gaurantee that your coin has been cleaned atleast once

I agree with the comments that if you are in this hobby to buy and sell then cleaning coins is not an option and should never be considered.

Most of my collection is comprised of circulating coins which I obtained from change. I want my collection to look presentable and have no intention of selling any of these coins to anyone else. This is a hobby for me and I find pleasure in finding coins to fill the slots, by looking in my change and searching rolls of coins. I neglected my hobby for quite a few years and then upon retirement decided to get back into it so I am doing a lot of catch up and purchasing all of the missing coins, I have found, becomes quite expensive.

I do clean pennies as some of them are really dirty and corroded. I use a combination of vinegar to soak them and then a final clean with a thin watery paste made up of water and baking soda and a toothbrush to scrub them clean. It's a lot of work so I may try some of the suggestions on this post to see if it works better. They do show signs of being around for a while, nicks and scratches, but they already have many of these before I cleaned them. At least they show better.

I am gradually purchasing better quality coins to replace these coins. These coins and any valuable coins in my colletion are never cleaned.

As a purchaser of coins, and being new to this hobby I am not yet able to know when a coin which, other than being tarnished over the years, shows well when cleaned. The pros here know when a coin has been cleaned but I haven't reached that level of knowledge yet. Therefore there is a good chance I might purchase a good looking coin that has been cleaned when I could purchase an uncirculated coin for much the same price. Because of my inexperience I have to trust the person selling the coins does not clean them for resale and a better price.