| Author |
 Replies: 23 / Views: 2,543 |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
580 Posts |
Now that I have your attention, let me rephrase that. By cleaning I mean using some soap and distilled water to clean off grease left by peoples' fingers. I have this nightmare of sealing up something like a pristine IHC only to find a big fingerprint "growing" on its surface a year later! Also, what about dipping copper in xylene and silver in acetone both followed by a distilled water rinse? Is that overkill? |
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2541 Posts |
I stay away completely from doing anything to my coins!
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
Quote:
Also, what about dipping copper in xylene and silver in acetone both followed by a distilled water rinse? Is that overkill?
If you have some experience in actual "practice" with doing this.....then I'd say that's fine and I'd be on board with ya. But I wouldn't " begin" doing this with quality coins without any previous "trial & error" experiences to "carefully and properly" carry this out. |
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
580 Posts |
I've done it before, and it was on stuff that wasn't exactly what I would call "priceless". I just want them to be grease free before storing them away.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2520 Posts |
I don't "clean" anything unless needed for preservation!
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Just to make sure about no bacteria, germs or viruses, dirt or nose pickings, I dip all my coins in Concentrated Sulfuric Acid. I used to use Aqua Regia but it is to expensive. Then comes the Bleach rinse, followed by Tarn-X with a tooth brush but only the soft bristled ones. For a final step I rinse them all in spring water from a well.   For the most part if coins are sealed against the elements, air, moisture, etc. there is not much to gain from cleaning them. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
580 Posts |
JC I can't believe you would use a tooth brush! Even soft bristled is bad.  I think I will just stick with dousing them in lighter fluid and torching them....that should remove everything from grease to nose pickings. Edited by mklpatrick
06/12/2009 7:47 pm
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
19949 Posts |
Every coin I put in an airtite gets a quick acetone rinse first.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Australia
1040 Posts |
I agree with BadThad, a quick acetone bath won't hurt the coin, but will remove oils from finger prints. Nothing worse than thinking you have a nice coin only to find a fingerprint has eaten it's way into the surface.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
507 Posts |
For a while I rinsed all coins in acetone before putting them in holders. Many of these were common, cheap coins, and I felt like I was wasting my time and money. I've since reevaluated and will probably only rinse coins that I consider 'worth it'. I'd say those worth $5 or more, but everyone has their own cutoff. You've also got to think what the odds are that your coin has encountered something in its life that needs washing. A silver coin from the 1800s has seen a lot more handling and containers than one from 2006...
WheatieFan
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
Posted Today 3 Hrs 33 Min ago
You've also got to think what the odds are that your coin has encountered something in its life that needs washing. A silver coin from the 1800s has seen a lot more handling and containers than one from 2006...
WheatieFan
Your somewhat correct but not as a general rule. Actually most coins from that far back have been mostly put away somewhere by collectors for a long time. I've received many, many coins dated in the 1990's to 2007 that already looked like something most people wouldn't let their kids pick up off the street. I never see coins dated in the 1930's or 40's in change and never, ever, never see coins in change dated in the 18xx. I've actually refused some coins in change from stores that looked like someone just dug them up. Possibly a Silver coin in the 1800's has already been cleaned and maybe more than once. NO ONE cleans coins dated 2006 or do they? |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
JC I can't believe you would use a tooth brush! Even soft bristled is bad.
I think I will just stick with dousing them in lighter fluid and torching them....that should remove everything from grease to nose pickings.
Edited by mklpatrick - Yesterday 7:47 pm
It's less of a problem to the coins than the Brass gun bore cleaning wire brush I used to use. |
|
Valued Member
United States
295 Posts |
I do not clean anything coin related
|
|
Moderator
 Australia
16827 Posts |
I only acetone-wash coins that "need it": ones with obvious PVC residues, paint, stickytape, or ugly varnish. Or, as in your example, a nice pristine copper that I've just seen mishandled and know will get a print developing unless prompt action is taken.
I wouldn't waste time and acetone washing coins "just in case".
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
|
|
Valued Member
United States
116 Posts |
Very interesting question and some interesting replys. I did not clean anything or do anything until about 2 years ago. Then I started rinsing everything in acetone. Rarely but some may even get a 24 hr soak. Older coins of any value, just get a quick rinse/dip. Don't think it hurts the coins and thinking it cleans oils and surface residue off. May be wasting my time and money on acetone, but thinking better safe than sorry.
|
|
Moderator
United States
16679 Posts |
Acetone will remove the oils which accumulate from human contact. I only rinse those I deem need it.
swcoin.ecrater.com
|
| |
Replies: 23 / Views: 2,543 |
Posted 06/12/2009 3:21 pm
