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 Replies: 17 / Views: 14,569 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
520 Posts |
I was just wondering if the Salt and Vinegar trick to cleaning coins, damage them in anyway visible to the eye or the value of the coin? I have never really heard much about it. Just a bit curious.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3592 Posts |
yes it will damage them...if you need to clean,do a search on this forum for the safest way...soaking in acetone and rinsing with distilled water is the best...do not rub
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Valued Member
United States
255 Posts |
Or just do not clean them.....ever.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4989 Posts |
Yes salt and vinegar tend to turn desirable brown copper pieces into very undesirable "fake red" pieces that are worth 40% or less of the value of a good brown piece.
Even on an RB piece, a vinegar dip will dull the luster and reduce the value to a brown piece or lower.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Vineagar contains an acid. And not all Vinegars are the same in acidic strength. Even the word salt is rather misleading. For example during the winter people buy salt for their sidewalks and that is reallly not the same as the table salt you put on your food. And too, check out the lables of salt for food and you will also find differences. I like the Popcorn Buttered Salt myself but never on a coin. Best not to clean coins.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1534 Posts |
Acetone is generally considered a form of conservation and not cleaning, so if you take the necessary precautions acetone is often a good idea for certain coins.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
520 Posts |
Alrighty thanks guys, I just thought I would ask. I personally like the shiny coins but I guess that's not where the value is at. I will not be using that method to clean them then lol.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
casutherland: You say you like shiny coins. That dull coating you see on older coins actually can help to protect them. It's called a patina. Remove that and you can lessen the value of a coin very considerably.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
Alrighty thanks guys, I just thought I would ask. I personally like the shiny coins but I guess that's not where the value is at. I will not be using that method to clean them then lol.
If you attend flea markets you may run accross people demonstrating auto polishes. The usually use old coins to do this with and you would really like the results. Really a great shine on them. |
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Valued Member
United States
327 Posts |
I thought it was distilled water and then acetone to make sure that there is no moisture left on the coin after?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19931 Posts |
Quote:
I thought it was distilled water and then acetone to make sure that there is no moisture left on the coin after?
It is! Acetone should always be the FINAL rinse. It will completely desiccate the coin and make it ready for storage. Be sure to put the coin in a holder immediately after the actone rinse so moisture from the air doens't have a chance to redeposit onto the surface. Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
salt is granular so I don't think it would be a good idea to get it anywhere near a coin
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19931 Posts |
Not only that, salt contains chloride, one of the most corrosive elements there is to metals!
Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3592 Posts |
Quote:
I thought it was distilled water and then acetone to make sure that there is no moisture left on the coin after?] yes, I wrote that backwards...sorry |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
The only use I have for 'Salt 'n Vinegar' is to put on my 'Fish 'n Chips'!
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
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Replies: 17 / Views: 14,569 |
Posted 12/26/2010 8:14 pm
