Properly Cleaned? So We See The Improperly Labels Often!

I wish it were this simple, so as to be definable with "general" rules. It isn't.

The reason for that is the initial difficulty - something which never gets enough weight in the process - of defining whether the coin you're looking at *should* be conserved. It isn't the process which defines "unacceptable" cleaning, but the result.

Therefore, even the most intrusive methods of cleaning can be "acceptable" when the result is widely considered appropriate. Even a wire brush might be the better alternative to an entirely-encrusted Ancient which has spent two Millenia underwater. Not even distilled water is the right thing if the removed dirt will make the resulting coin look like it's suffering from an active case of the measles.

If you're going to learn coin conservation, the first and by a wide margin most important lesson is knowing which coins to choose.

1. Acetone should be fine but might react with some metals - I hear it tones iron so you shouldnt use it with steel cents I guess.

For ancient coins its a different kettle of fish - they act differently to cleaning. For example, olive oil can be used with any ancient coin (well, any stable ancient coin) but could cause adverse affects to moderns like toning or slight corrosion.

2. As stated previously, the only issue is the coin wibrating against the metal basket.

3. Black magic, probably chemicals. Speaking of which, BadThad is the inventor of VerdiCare - look into it, its like a 1-Up for copper coins.

This.

Thanks! Most helpful. I ordered an ultrasonic cleaner with a plastic basket that specifically states it cleans coins with no damage or adverse effects to them. I'll try it out on some of the "melt value" silver I have to see how it does before using it on my "album targets".

Mostly want to get the dirt off some 20th century silver coins of all denominations - maybe some nickels and copper eventually - but want to do it without harming the coin. I've thusfar left all coins completely alone but would like to clean surface gunk off of some of them. I asked one dealer at a local show that has all "clean looking" silver what he used to clean them and he said plain old-fashioned silver polish and a rag - OUCH! Haven't bought any raw coins from him since.

Eventually it would be cool to find a way to get rid of toning from silver without scratching them up - like most I see on ebay. But first I am just interested in cleaning the dirt and residue off some of them.

Had not heard about ultrasonic cleaning coins before a few days ago - ran across a post here I think that said it does the trick on most without scratching/hurting them. I could see a problem if using a steel basket possibly but with a plastic one it sounds like a viable solution. Dipping in solvents and scrubbing of any kind just don't seem "proper".

This is a VERY easy process with an acid-thiourea dip like EZest. It's also very easy to completely ruin your silver coin if you don't know what you're doing.

SsuperDdave is right about that. Be very skeptical of any cliam such as that. Tarnx claims that it is good for cleaning coins too, but it does a good job of leaving them stripped and lusterless.

When I began collecting silver coins I also wanted all of them shinny and clean; I was even close to buying one of those ultrasonic cleaners. Thank god it finally got into my head that old silver coins look immensely better as they come than artificially shinny and clean. And this is specially true for lower and mid grades.