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 Replies: 23 / Views: 2,545 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
507 Posts |
For a while I rinsed all coins in acetone before putting them in holders. Many of these were common, cheap coins, and I felt like I was wasting my time and money. I've since reevaluated and will probably only rinse coins that I consider 'worth it'. I'd say those worth $5 or more, but everyone has their own cutoff. You've also got to think what the odds are that your coin has encountered something in its life that needs washing. A silver coin from the 1800s has seen a lot more handling and containers than one from 2006...
WheatieFan
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
Posted Today 3 Hrs 33 Min ago
You've also got to think what the odds are that your coin has encountered something in its life that needs washing. A silver coin from the 1800s has seen a lot more handling and containers than one from 2006...
WheatieFan
Your somewhat correct but not as a general rule. Actually most coins from that far back have been mostly put away somewhere by collectors for a long time. I've received many, many coins dated in the 1990's to 2007 that already looked like something most people wouldn't let their kids pick up off the street. I never see coins dated in the 1930's or 40's in change and never, ever, never see coins in change dated in the 18xx. I've actually refused some coins in change from stores that looked like someone just dug them up. Possibly a Silver coin in the 1800's has already been cleaned and maybe more than once. NO ONE cleans coins dated 2006 or do they? |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
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JC I can't believe you would use a tooth brush! Even soft bristled is bad.
I think I will just stick with dousing them in lighter fluid and torching them....that should remove everything from grease to nose pickings.
Edited by mklpatrick - Yesterday 7:47 pm
It's less of a problem to the coins than the Brass gun bore cleaning wire brush I used to use. |
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Valued Member
United States
295 Posts |
I do not clean anything coin related
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Moderator
 Australia
16827 Posts |
I only acetone-wash coins that "need it": ones with obvious PVC residues, paint, stickytape, or ugly varnish. Or, as in your example, a nice pristine copper that I've just seen mishandled and know will get a print developing unless prompt action is taken.
I wouldn't waste time and acetone washing coins "just in case".
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Valued Member
United States
116 Posts |
Very interesting question and some interesting replys. I did not clean anything or do anything until about 2 years ago. Then I started rinsing everything in acetone. Rarely but some may even get a 24 hr soak. Older coins of any value, just get a quick rinse/dip. Don't think it hurts the coins and thinking it cleans oils and surface residue off. May be wasting my time and money on acetone, but thinking better safe than sorry.
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Moderator
United States
16679 Posts |
Acetone will remove the oils which accumulate from human contact. I only rinse those I deem need it.
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
It's less of a problem to the coins than the Brass gun bore cleaning wire brush I used to use. I used to use a welding brush, but that got to be too much of a chore, so I switched to my drill and a wire wheel. It's all much easier now.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2669 Posts |
Quote:
I switched to my drill and a wire wheel Ouch, and yikes!  |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1040 Posts |
You just have to be careful not to catch the end of your fingers. Otherwise you get lovely coloured coins...
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Valued Member
Australia
125 Posts |
My seven year-old grandson knows I'm into coins and one day he explained how he and his mates had this neat way of cleaning any old copper one and Two Cents they might find. In his words... "We just put them in a jam jar, ruinate on them, and in a week they're back looking like new!". Ah kids... don'cha sometimes just wish you were still one? And looked up ruinate in the dictionary and got this: ' ruinate' pronounced ruin-ate. A sure-fire way of ruin-ing anything remotely good. In case you're wondering, his name is Connor and he wears a cheeky grin. Just be sure not to leave him or his mates alone anywhere near your "dirty old" coins. 
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
Hey.....if Conners method works......... How much would he charge to do a whole batch of about 100 greasy/dirty/oily War Nickels !! .. |
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Valued Member
Australia
125 Posts |
Quote:How much would he charge to do a whole batch of about 100 greasy/dirty/oily War Nickels ! .. Just the plane fare  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1083 Posts |
I give any oily modern silver coins (Franklins, Walkers, Mercuries, and Roosevelts) an acetone bath before putting them in an album or coin tubes. So far I have left my 19th century circulated silver exactly like I received them.
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Valued Member
United States
327 Posts |
Actually, I consider that there are two stages of "cleaning", one gentle non-altering one I call "conserving" (from ancient coin terminology) and "cleaning". Conserving consists of removing surface gunk that obscures details (it's actually not uncommon to find older coins with a layer of dirt/dust/nicotine cemented on)  and then the oils from handling. I fail to see how leaving a coin crusted with gunk is somehow going to increase it's value. "Cleaning", on the other hand, actually alters the physical surface of the coin (dipping, polish, whizzing, etc) and does alter the value of the coin-and rightly so. |
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Replies: 23 / Views: 2,545 |
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Posted 06/13/2009 4:06 pm
