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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,467 |
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New Member
United States
7 Posts |
I'm a collector by default. I inherited my husbands collection when he passed away. Recently we experienced flood waters here and some of the coins (in flip folders) rested in flood water for several days. How can I safely wash these coins. Thanks for any information you can give me. soht25 Moved to Main Coin Forum for better coverage
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1040 Posts |
Hi and welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear about the floods. Without knowing what kind of damage has been done, it is difficult to answer. If it is just a dirty kind of sediment, your best bet would be to simply use warm soapy water. Let them soak in that for awhile to lift the sediment off and then rinse them off.
You need to be careful in that if you try to wipe them with any grit still on the coin, you are going to damage them. So no wiping. You can also try dipping them in acetone, which should dissolve any nasties without damaging the coin.
If the collection is valuable, you may be better advised to contact a coin dealer who should be able to recommend a better method upon sighting the coins.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2217 Posts |
Whataver you do don't scrub them! As this will leave fine hairmarks on the coins and reduce the grade/value..
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New Member
 United States
7 Posts |
Thank you for your quick response to my request Latman100 and NumisMatty. You have given me a place to start. Soht25 (Sara)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
860 Posts |
Hi, Basically what was said, but although the first use of water can be regular tap or drinking water to get the sediment loose, I would rinse with distilled water and allowed to dry before using the acetone. Some areas of the country has drinking water with high mineral content and after a flood, I suspect your water district will be zapping the heck out of the water with the chlorine. I would be horrified if they didn't. Also be sure to use pure ( well almost) acetone from a hardware or paint store rather than an acetone mixture often sold in some stores to remove super-glue or fingernails. Good Luck, opinions on cleaning will vary, but as said above, protect the surfaces. Even a well worn, soft toothbrush can leave marks and ruin a coin. ( Been there and done that about 30 yrs ago  Jim |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1040 Posts |
Good points Jim, never had to contend with flood waters, and I only ever think of Acetone as the stuff you buy from the hardware store, not the stuff to remove nail polish. I have really got to get in touch with my feminine side.  Edited by latman100
06/26/2008 05:01 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
 As the North middle of the U.S. is badly flooding around main rivers, I wonder just how many coin collections were placed into a "safe" and then people found out that "safes" ARE NOT WATERPROOF ! What were your husbands coins "housed" in ?.....obviously some were laying out and that's normal..... But the arguement between "safes" and "safety deposit boxes" comes into play here quite boldly ! Edited by eaglefoot
06/26/2008 09:19 am
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New Member
United States
7 Posts |
eaglefoot, the coins were in a safe that I tho't was watertight. Guess it wasn't and the water didn't cover all the coins but they sure smell musty. Thanks for mentioning the distilled water because I was wondering about watermarks after they dried. Also about the acetone. I'm a really ignorant about coins but am trying to learn. Appreciate all your comments.The rest of the coins were in safety deposit boxes and had been for 15 years. Sara
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1807 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
WELCOME TO THE FORUM.
Basically what has already been said. The greenish corrosion looking stuff is just normal on anything Copper. Don't go nutty trying to remove all that. Do not use tap water for rinsing coins as already noted. In most places it is treated with either Florine or Chlorine or both. In many homes water goes through a water softener. This water is now heavy with NaCl, the salt you put into the system to soften the water. Use distilled water only. Acetone is great for the little it will accomplish. Anything harsher than that could damage the coins. If you purchase Acetone from the pain section of a store, prior to usage, place a little on a clean, GLASS dish and allow to evaporate. If there is any residue, discard that Acetone as being comtaminated. If Acetone sits in a can for extended periods of time, it could disolve the inner lining that is there to protect the solution. Always just rinse the coins. Never use a brush, toothpick, etc. Best to have a little dirt on a coin than lines from excessive cleaning. Ever watch the Antique Roadshow on TV? The almost always stress, do not clean old things.
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,467 |
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Posted 06/24/2008 08:21 am
