| Author |
 Replies: 26 / Views: 4,213 |
|
Pillar of the Community
Poland
3201 Posts |
I have bought one of the typical coin lots that are offered here (more about the finds later on) and ended up with a lot of coins that look like this:  If I wanted to improve their appearance, what should I use? Yes, I know they're basically worthless (even without the green). But I might need some of them since I cannot afford to buy the "better coins" lots that are full of AU-UNCs, only the very low-end stuff. |
|
|
|
Valued Member
United States
436 Posts |
If an acetone bath doesn't do it, I'd leave them alone, and put them up as is.
|
|
Valued Member
Finland
294 Posts |
Few minutes in ketchup bath may help -or not. It effects to some coins better than others. I have tried ketchup for silver- and CuNi-coins and results have been quite good. Some coins I have cleaned with crystal soda, but it's usually "too" heavy wash for coins.
|
|
Valued Member
United States
168 Posts |
I'm pretty sure the copper is still almost worthless anyways... that looks like carbon spotting.
The middle silver 20 piece and the lower right hand coin look pretty good as is to me though.
|
|
Moderator
 Australia
16809 Posts |
Part of the problem is in the alloys some of the coins are made of. Many of these are communist-era coins; the cheap'n'nasty alloys they typically used just don't preserve well. Particularly the high-zinc nickel-brass used by the USSR seems to turn green at the slightest provocation. Acetone won't shift it; I just leave them alone myself.
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
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4212 Posts |
|
|
Valued Member
United States
303 Posts |
I rather would have it look gunky than put a Dremel to a coin :)
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Quote:
Dremel wire wheel? Whatever you do--not that.   For some reason, I see better results with a grain alcohol soak overnight. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2605 Posts |
What is a Dremel wire wheel? I consider myself a somewhat experienced collector but I have no knowledge of cleaning (not that I'm about to start cleaning my collection)
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
Dremel wire wheel?
Got to be a brass wire wheel though. You really shouldn't clean most coins but some of those are really shot, so to speak. Acetone will do nothing on most of them at all. Ketchup, Tamato juice, Lemon Juice, Lighter fluids, etc that people say to try are products that most have never used but heard it mentioned somewhere and just repeat, repeat, repeat. And too some say molases, Laquer thinners, Vinegar and on and on and on. In most instances the Copper turning green is from Sulfur Acids in the air. SO or SO2 with moisture attacks Copper. Regardless of the chemical reaction, you can sort of neutralize those with simple bakiing soda and distilled water solution. Make a paste and rub with that paste with your fingers very gently. If that doesn't take off the contamination, forget it. Anything stronger will damage the coins more than any fixing. |
|
Rest in Peace
United States
1729 Posts |
Goo-Gone, elbow grease, and a supply of toothpicks will remove a lot of gunk and most verdigris, but be prepared for a lighter-colored coin under gunk.
|
|
Valued Member
United States
303 Posts |
There was a recent thread about a Dremel meeting a Indian Head penny. Check the results, you will not place a Dremel so close to a coin ever again. |
|
Pillar of the Community
Philippines
1156 Posts |
how about olive oil immersion for 20 days? I tried that with copper coins but just couldnt wait for the 30days, went and cleaned with soft toothbrush after 1 week. the copper coins were ok, the green gunk is gone but some of the black stain still remained. overall I would rate 10-15% better looking than before
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Philippines
1156 Posts |
Hi svslav, per your question - dremel wire wheel is a 3/4" diameter brush wheel on a hand held spindle and drivemotor, rotating at 5,000rpm other models at 10,000rpm. I use it (nylon brush/10,000rpm) on conddemed and hopeless coins with black tar encrustation result of being submerged in tropical rivers.
It has to be used with a 6x-8x magnifying glass and a very steady hand. It's a trade off between having an untradable coin that is black, unreadable, unknown metal disc and an untradable coin that is cleaned, shiny coin of known metal but with microscopic and faint scratches on it's surface. it's a last case move before throwing the coin in the trash bucket. hope that info helps
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2130 Posts |
Quote:
Dremel wire wheel? That idea sent shivers up my spine.  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
628 Posts |
Eurocoin, I've never heard of the ketchup bath solution. Sounds interesting and worth a try, at least a test.
|
| |
Replies: 26 / Views: 4,213 |
Posted 10/29/2009 11:59 am
