Hydrogen Peroxide On Coins

I don't know about the scientific reasoning behind using or not using H2O2 but as always cleaning coins is frowned upon.
If the coin is just a common date coin I always say go ahead and do what you want with it, but as far as coins worth any kind of money I always leave as is.
It's your collection so clean away if you must, but for the most part I would leave the coins alone. Someone else with some better knowledge should chime in

Most of us ancient collectors on here use Peroxide to help clean our coins. It works better than distilled water and faster than olive oil.

Note the H2O2 and remember that O is Oxygen and one of the worst enemies of Copper. Just one of the many wrong things for coins. Might as well use Lemon Juice, Orange Juice, Tomato Juice, battery acid, Olive Oil, Jewlery cleaner from Walmart, spit, dish soaps, baking soda and tap water and the list goes on of all the things people say ato use on coins.
Yet for some strange reason people that really know say DON'T CLEAN COINS.

Love your responses Thad! Loved you over at the other forum. I had to get out of there, Those folks are too 'stuck up' and in need of counseling I think. They just can't wait to edit my posts and finally ban me. They caused me too much stress having to play their word games, always wondering if I was gonna get banned. I hated them. Anyway, glad you're here. While I'm talking to you, does soaking silver in hot water and baking soda for a few minutes and lightly rubbing the dirt off between my finders destroy the value of my coin? I trust your judgement. Thanks!

For most people, probably so. However, you cannot make a blanket statement that applies to all coins. Conservation/cleaning is a special subject because it all depends on: 1) nature of the problem 2) extent of the problem 3) ability/experience of the person performing the task.

The bottom line: If you cannot tell a coin has been conserved (experienced collector/dealer), than it has not and is market acceptable.

Thanks for the great question and all of the feedback!!

While CRH today found a 1986 S Nickel (proof)

My first proof coin ever CRH.

For a proof in circulation it looks really good
no dings or scratches.

However in the field where you can see
the most luster. There is a fine coat of what looks
to be a tar substance like cigarette smoke residue.

My heart says never to clean coins. However my mind
says the continued damage of leaving this tar on the
coin is worse.

Could I use H2O2 with a bath of H2O to remove tar?

Responding to a question way upthread:




Mineral oil has a deceptive name. It is also an organic substance. It's related to substances like gasoline, differing only in the size of the molecules, which contain only carbon and hydrogen. If you use it on a coin, it can dissolve things (grease), but is non-reactive.

Olive oil has a different composition. Part of the molecules behave like the mineral oil, and can dissolve things like grease. But it also has a very mildly acidic character, and this is probably what allows it to act on corrosion or ancient deposits.