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 Replies: 16 / Views: 1,975 |
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Valued Member
Australia
281 Posts |
Before you start let me just say that I am not asking about dipping coins in acids or "cleaning magic" or the ilk.  What I am wondering is with coins pulled out of circulation do you anything to remove "gunk" (think human skin mixed by various fatty products) or just leave them "as is"? |
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Valued Member
United States
346 Posts |
im not the most knowledgeable so dont take my word for gold lol. I dont do it myself but ive read on nearly 15 different sites to minute bath your circulated coins with isopropyl alcohol ( I have a feeling I miss spelled that) they say that it will not harm coins that it will just remove dead skin,grime, oils and the such. remember dont take my word for gold here as I have not tried this myself. I'm eager to see what others have to say and if they have any opinions on what ive just said.
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Moderator
 Australia
16816 Posts |
Many collectors will say, "if the gunk was put there by normal circulation, then leave it there". Gunk adds character! However, there are two methods which are recommended if you happen to disagree with those collectors:
1. Soap and warm water. Harmless to any type of coin except pure copper (which doesn't like water at all). A soft toothbrish or your fingernail are generally acceptable tools to assist with grime removal, especially for well circulated coins.
2. Organic solvent, like isopropyl alcohol (yes, DB, that is the correct way to spell it) or acetone. Acetone is especially helpful in getting rid of the green gunk that builds up on coins kept for too long in those nasty plastic pages.
If it doesn't come off with either (or both) of these methods, then its not dirt, it's tarnish/toning/corrosion and that's supposed to be left there.
Personally, I leave "natural circulation gunk" there on the coin, unless its particularly ugly or obscures most of the design, but "PVC green" ought to come off straight away.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Valued Member
United States
79 Posts |
You can soak copper coins in extra virgin olive oil and they wont look as if they were cleaned,but it wont always remove ALL of the gunk.
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Forum Kid
Kuwait
1523 Posts |
Phew, no aci cleaning, I was scared when I saw the topic....
You dip it in Olive Oil for a day or two I think....
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Pillar of the Community
Belgium
2078 Posts |
I used isopropanol 90% for years ( beware there is a 70% too) Untill I discovered the wonders of acetone Acetone at room temperature will flash off without a trace Isopropanol may leave traces from the watercontent on proofs  |
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Valued Member
United States
346 Posts |
would isopropyl alcohol or acetone affect the coins surface in anyway? For example I have a 1963 silver quarter I recently found in circulation. it has an outline of dirt stuck around the device of washington. what should I use to remove the dirt and not affect the coins chance of toning in the future. nor the color and grade of my coin. thanks for any help
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Forum Mom
United States
5877 Posts |
Acetone is fine for noble metals - gold, silver, platinum, etc. It will not affect the metal and will evaporate with no problems. Some people have had problems with copper and bronze coins getting darker with the use of acetone.
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Pillar of the Community
Belgium
2078 Posts |
I just bought the 2nd edition of the handbook of coinpreservation by
Wolfgang J Mehlhausen ( Gietl verlag )
I bought the german version so I don't know an english version is available
I am not confortable though with his approach
His first step is a pH neutral soapbath he keeps heated on a coffeemaking machine
He just dumps in coppers for days on end before declaring it a failure and going on two method 2 etc
He starts with the same soap bath on gold coins
Now I have been told by a rep of Jean Elsen the biggest auction house
in Belgium never to use soap on gold because the resulting shine is detectable by them
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1203 Posts |
Let me start off by saying "yes" I clean dirty circulating coins that I find and intend to keep. But this is how I go about doing it. Several years ago I was in and getting a new pair of glasses. The Dr. was cleaning my old pair so I could use them until my new ones got in. He was using a small tank and it produced a low sound. The glasses came out looking like new. I got to thinking that if this machine could clean a pair of glasses, what would it do with coins. I borrowed an old tank the Dr. had and tried it. Well, the rest is history. I purchased a Omega table top washing tank that uses 'ultrasonic' method of cleaning. There are absolutely no toxic solevents used and the high frequency electricty produces sound waves that do the cleaning. It's safe, fast and very gentle on the coins. I can not detect any effect on the metal at all, except it is absolutely clean of all the gunk and grime. Anyway, that is how it's done around here. You decide on which method you will use and then do a little experimenting. Pick the way that suits you best. Enjoy the hobby!  |
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Pillar of the Community
Belgium
2078 Posts |
Old Dan
I understand as long as you do not let the coins bang around
the bottom or bounce in a basket that no damage is done
I guess the real strong point of an ultrasonic is removing
grime right ?
But I guess it will not really work on proof surfaces because
even distilated water leaves drying marks at 12X magnification
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1203 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by ageka
Old Dan
I understand as long as you do not let the coins bang around
the bottom or bounce in a basket that no damage is done
I guess the real strong point of an ultrasonic is removing
grime right ?
But I guess it will not really work on proof surfaces because
even distilated water leaves drying marks at 12X magnification
The intensity of the ultrasound can be regulated so that you don' get any bouncing around of your coins. The one I use has what looks like a bicycle rack and you lean the coin in between the uprights. I have never used it on anything but circulated coinage, so can't say first hand about proof surfaces. The solution used in the tank need not be water, and it's possible to use such fluids as Acetone, alcohol and even naphtha. You are able to use what ever solution you feel will do the job on the type surface and material being cleaned. It does do one heck of a good job cleaning the items to a sparkling new appearnce in most cases. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
2684 Posts |
I'm gonna venture into the horrible world of cleaning. I have an 1879CC Morgan that came back in a body bag with the label "environmental damage" as I knew it would (I had to fill in the fifth coin with something). At best, it would have been G-06. The fields and parts of the devices are black, but I don't believe it's from oxidation. It just happens I bought a can of 100% acetone last week to use as gasket and surface cleaner on my Jeep, so all I gotta do it put the Morgan and acetone together in a non-reactive container. Since the Morgan has relatively little value as it is now, I'm not gonna ruin an already ruined coin.
Fred
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1262 Posts |
I do not like to do any damage to my coins so I do not clean them at all. You have no idea what future damage you are doing to them if you clean them with a chemical. By cleaning them you are cleaning off the history of an old coin!
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Pillar Of The Community
Turkey
1205 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by bm1947
I do not like to do any damage to my coins so I do not clean them at all. You have no idea what future damage you are doing to them if you clean them with a chemical. By cleaning them you are cleaning off the history of an old coin!
you're right, but in this topic grandelfreak just asks to remove the dirt, not oxidised surface or toned area. The intentions are not to harm any coin. |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1262 Posts |
You are so right renal...I will then agree with sap...soap and water with a soft toothbush to clean "gunk" off a coin.
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Replies: 16 / Views: 1,975 |
Posted 03/03/2006 03:05 am
