The Experiment Continues

Hi merclover. I found various recipes on coin community. These are ones that I could test now. I got the suggestion from coop for the mineral oil. But I have to go to the store to get it. When I find one to keep and want to restore it I need to know how and how not to. I have now eliminated vinegar through my experiments. Acetone is ok for a 5 sec bath but it can only do so much. I posted these not for my benefit but for the good of the whole community. Please be a little more positive.

This is a good post to show what works and what does not. It is something to point to for newbies. The coins that the OP is experimenting on are clearly only worth face value to begin with, so guys, let's not worry about trying to identify the do's and don'ts right now.

Coop is baby oil close enough?

Threads like these indicate we're losing collective knowledge on many topics. There are loads of old threads on this topic that are good, and a few like this that are dross. T-Bop's advice is solid

"Please be a little more positive."

Most of you all don't get it. To restore a coin should not be a secret. I got many tips on the subject. Some worthy and some not so much. I want my little collection to look as nice as possible. I have always been the do it yourself type! I thought I would get a majority of support from the community. But support is in the minority. Thank you to those who support my efforts.

Much depends on what the individual collector is after. I knew someone who happily used Brasso on a collection of circulated wheat cents. The individual was very happy with the resulting bright pink copper appearance after rubbing liberal dollops of Brasso on the coins using a coarse, well-used (dirty) rag. Several months later they'd begin to tarnish, so more Brasso.

When I attempt restoration of copper or copper-plated coins, I use acetone and/or mineral oil only. Verdicare occasionally. A few times I've soaked in acetone for many hours to remove stubborn material such as decades-old glue-like substances--with good results.

Please understand that "cleaning", "restoring" and "conserving" are very polarizing terms in the coin community. Any time you bring them up you are going to get an array of responses from across the spectrum of opinion, and some of them are likely to be very strong.

I think it's more important that you understand WHY you're getting these results, as opposed to understanding WHAT results to expect.

Essentially, the copper used to make the coins chemically reacts with the environment over time and forms a new substance that is brownish in color. It's similar to iron reacting with air and turning to iron oxide, which we know as rust.

Acids, like vinegar, actually strip that thin layer of new copper material off the coin and unfortunately leave the coin with what many consider and unnatural pinkish tone. By removing layers of metal it also affects luster and if done excessively can affect overall appearance.

Solvents like acetone and xylene dissolve certain substances on the coin, but don't react with copper. A cent treated with those chemicals will look cleaner if there were substances that could be dissolved, but won't necessarily look "brighter" or closer to their original condition.

Someone else already suggested this, but member Bad Thad is, I believe, trained as a chemist and has posted many threads on this subject. Search them out as it may save you much time and trouble.