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 Replies: 25 / Views: 3,481 |
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Valued Member
United States
135 Posts |
In the process of gathering estate assets, I came across 300+ coins and $2400 FV in old bills in an old safe that had been exposed to a roof leak -actually poured water out of it. Most of the silver just has a chalky, oxidized look, but some actually have chunks of rusted steel stuck to the from the inside of the safe. The currency is mostly stained/discolored, some destroyed. Should these coins be cleaned up? How the heck do you removed that kind of rust? The one in the middle is a V nickel.  |
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Valued Member
United States
395 Posts |
Yikes... Well first off, the rusted ones, I dont think there is much help for those. Cleaning ruins any value of collectible coins. Honestly I dont even know if there is a method to remove that rust, the issue of damaging value aside.
The top silver coins look OK though. If a lot are like that, they look to be candidates for sale.
Possible melt value for the heavily rust damaged.
Just my non professional opinion
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1053 Posts |
If there is a way to remove that rust, the coin under it will still be damaged, so I would especially for the nickel, try whatever you can. It won't have value as is, but if you can actually see the coin, you can maybe get SOMETHING out of it.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2448 Posts |
Thanks for posting those. Don't remember who, but one of our forum members said it was impossible for rust to adhere to silver and stainless steel. I've seen both rusted. I know what you're thinking, "ain't supposed to happen". Actually you're right, but sometimes.....
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
I'm thinking an ultrasonic cleaner might help somewhat, but I agree the rusted coins are damaged for good from the rust.
How did the paper money fair? Any large sized currency?
"Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2˘ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3540 Posts |
An ultrasonic cleaner WOULD help in this case.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
593 Posts |
These coins sound like the can of old coins I bought at a garage sale that were all stuck together in a wad of goo. I figured that they were already damaged so I used oven cleaner. There were large cents, Half Cent and IH`s and shield nickle, 3 cent piece etc. For $20 It did a great job and found the shield was a key and sold for around $300 in xf condition. It didnt eat into the metal. Not a proper way, but what do you have to loose and all the stuff came off. Test a couple to see if it works first. |
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Valued Member
 United States
135 Posts |
Oven cleaner might be worth a try...a friend suggested phosphoric acid. I asked him if he'd been snorting it lol.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Don't waste time and money attempting to fix those really messed up coins. You would find yourself spending more than you could ever get back on those. Best would be to find a jewler or someone that wants them for melting.
I'd suggest spending more time with the currency. Usually a bank would take them and send to the Mint. There they would distroy those and replace with new ones.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
If BOTH gold or silver is buried in close contact with rusting iron or steel in the ground, it is possible for complex gold or silver 'double' salts to be formed on the coin, if the conditions are right.
Unfortunately, the coins CAN in fact suffer from corrosion in the right burial conditions. I have seen an Australian Sydney Mint half sovereign affected in this way. The actual alloy for these is .9167% (22ct) gold, 8.33% silver.
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Valued Member
United States
135 Posts |
Is there any legal issues with melting them myself? I have debated making a few novelty "silver bullets".
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
You can melt silver or gold coins all you want, no legal problem, you just can't melt cents or non-silver five cent pieces. This is one case where cleaning coins isn't a problem.At least for those coins with rust adhering to them. And before anyone complains look at that V nickel. In that condition it is worthless. If you can remove the rust, even if the coin surfaces are slightly etched or show an unnatural color it would have to be worth more. You might try Iron Out it is a product specifically intended for dissolving rust. |
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Valued Member
United States
118 Posts |
I'd try some electrolysis on one of the silver coins. It should remove the rust but there will probably be staining or corrosion where the rust was. You can make your own electrolysis unit with things you most likely have around the house, do a search for how to make one, there's plenty of different ideas out there.....
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Valued Member
United States
135 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
A bit of a deviation from the rest of the comments, but is that old safe still under warranty? Did it ever promise protection from water damage? If so, you could file a claim with the safe company for the damage the safe failed to protect against. It's a long shot, but they might be willing to work with you, at least with the old notes and completely unsalvageable coins.
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Valued Member
United States
135 Posts |
Nope, very old safe, couldn't even identify the manufacturer.
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Replies: 25 / Views: 3,481 |
Posted 08/11/2013 11:02 am
