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 Replies: 28 / Views: 2,427 |
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New Member
United States
2 Posts |
I am a newbie to coin collecting and I have many coins that need some TLC or should I leave them alone. Another words is there a way to clean them without hurting the value. I have some products my wife uses for her jewelery. any help would be appreciated. the product is Hagerty silver and gold cleaners.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1040 Posts |
Hi Bobalou, and welcome. Go with the end of your first sentence. Leave them alone. Cleaning coins with any type of method that is going to alter the surface of the coin is actually damaging the coin. An altered surface, or damaged coin is virtually worthless. If your coin is tarnished, toned, dull, whatever, leave it alone.
Having said that, if it has contaminants on it such as PVC from album pages, or sticky tape residue, or fresh fingerprints, you can give it a bath in acetone, which will not damage the coin. If it is excessively dirty with grime and dirt, you can try soaking in distilled water and picking the dirt out of the devices with a tooth pick.
But to repeat, never do or use anything, or use any chemical, that will alter the coins surface. Chemical cleaners work by removing the top layer of the metal, so don't use them on your coins.
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Valued Member
United States
73 Posts |
 with latman100. Leave them alone! |
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Valued Member
United States
442 Posts |
Make that 3. Leave em alone.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
4......Leave them alone !!.......  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
OH !!......and ........  ..... Bobalou213 ! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4541 Posts |
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Moderator
 United States
16679 Posts |
You don't!! swcoin.ecrater.com
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Valued Member
United States
97 Posts |
Did anyone mention that you should leave them alone?
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Pillar of the Community
Poland
3201 Posts |
Opinion No.8
Nothing worse than cleaned silver coin .. ugh!
On second thought - cleaned copper or bronze.
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Valued Member
United States
135 Posts |
Depending on the problem you might try soaking them in olive oil for several months or an acetone dip and rinse. If it's tarnished (toned) a silver dip will work but probably leave the coin looking dull.
Edited by FreezerBurn
09/10/2008 05:24 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
580 Posts |
I would buy the best jewelry cleaner paste you can find, dip an SOS pad in it and scrub those coins really well on both sides. Oh wait...no, that's not right. I would just LEAVE THEM ALONE!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
Jbuck has a recipie that he used as a young lad...... Pepto Bismol !!.... |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2602 Posts |
Am I #10? DON'T CLEAN your coins.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
WELCOME TO THE FORUM. Using a Turkey type baster, suck out some battery acid from a car battery. Place your coins in that for several days. After that you will probably not have to worry about the coins any more. Other sure FIRE methods are to soak in gasoline and lite.  Enough of that. No don't try cleaning any coins. DO NOT try soaking in stuff like Olive Oils. Regardless of what anyone says, if you do not know what you are doing with the attempting cleaning of a coin, do nothing. If you have any coins that appear to be dirty, that is normal. Leave as is.
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Moderator
United States
188440 Posts |
I lost count, but I think I am #11 against cleaning coins with anything that alters the surface.  Quote:
Jbuck has a recipie that he used as a young lad......
Pepto Bismol !...  No, it was a "product" that made the cents look like Pepto-Bismol!  I must remind the OP, that I did it as an experiment on common cents, nothing of value; and I was very young! I must also remind the OP to not try this at home! Edited by jbuck
09/10/2008 11:34 am
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Replies: 28 / Views: 2,427 |
Posted 09/09/2008 9:33 pm
