Have found and cleaned silver coins in the past but copper cleans different than silver and don't want to ruin it.
2007-07-23 08:00:27 · 6 answers · asked by justfish 2 in Games & Recreation ➔ Hobbies & Crafts
This is coin found with my metal detector. Not concerned with value, just would like to clean up to show as much detail as possible. Have had good luck cleaning silver coins in past without harming, but copper cleans different than silver. Coin is Spanish, 2 maravides.
2007-07-24 03:57:21 · update #1
Another vote for soaking the coin in olive oil. Take the coin and put it in a jar. Cover the coin with olive oil and let it soak for a week or so. Pretty much any other cleaning method sort of sending it out to a professional to get it clean will ruin it's value. Having the coin professionally clean is a time consuming project & isn't to cheap. But for the right coin it can be worth it.
2007-07-24 02:47:43 · answer #1 · answered by acidcrap 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should not have cleaned the silver coins for it made the value of the coins less. Collectors know when a coin has been cleaned and no one really fools a dealer who knows his stuff. If the material that encrusted the coin has actually eaten into the metal, then you will only make it worse. Try a fine tooth brush and pick away at just the top to see. You can also try boiling the coin in distilled water to see if that will get rid of the dirt and material. If the coin has a high value leave it alone. I collect oriental copper cash coins and have to clean them up once in a while but they usually have a low value and even though my methods work, I have been doing it for years so don't give out how, in case a person damages their coin and blames it on me.
2007-07-23 13:39:21 · answer #2 · answered by Taiping 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As two others answered, I've always heard that cleaning old coins almost certainly lowers the value.
I'd say take it to your local coin dealer and ask them.
You could also get an idea of the value while you're there.
If they keel over with shock, then you'll know not to do it.
2007-07-23 12:19:52 · answer #3 · answered by metrent74 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you paid more than $10 for it, don't clean it. If it was only a dollar, I'd start with soap and water and a toothbrush. I'd carefully pick off big chuncks with a knife. If it was buried in dirt for a long time, I would soak it for an hour in WD-40 or Olive oil, depending on the amount of iron in the soil.
2007-07-23 17:16:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Electrolosis machines. Those were used on the SS Central America Shipwreck coins. Finds them on Ebay for about $10
2007-07-23 11:41:08 · answer #5 · answered by bbooptoon1959 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
DO NOT clean the coin(s). It WILL lose it's value and it WILL be damaged.
2007-07-23 10:20:33 · answer #6 · answered by Big Ben 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
DO NOT CLEAN IT. You devalue it if you clean it - that goes for the silver coins as well.
2007-07-23 08:08:28 · answer #7 · answered by old lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋