cleaning old coins???

Question

i was medal detecting this summer and i found a 1900 indian head penny and a 1889 v nickel any ways i could clean them????

Answer 1

You should not clean your coins. Most coin collectors see cleaning a coin as the equivalent of stripping down antique furniture and refinishing it.

When cleaning, the surface metal of the coin is often stripped. Anything used to scrub the coin will leave scratches (even 100% pure silk will leave hairline scratches). Most cleaning products will have some type of reaction with the coin's metal and the surface metal can also be removed in this manner.

Your best bet is to leave the coins alone. Cleaning the coin will leave traces - which can be found by the knowledgeable collector - who in turn will not buy the cleaned coin. Also if you ever wanted to send your coin into a grading company, they can recognize signs of cleaning and will send your coin back in a "cleaned" slab (also called a "body bag" in the coin world) - which is usually a greatly decreased value.

If you absolutely must must must clean your coins do not use the method described above as it will react with the metal in your coin. Use 100% acetone (do not use fingernail polish remover!). It must be 100% pure because other additives will react with the coin metal. Place your coin(s) in the solution for several minutes (do not leave in for long periods of time). Rinse your coin(s) in distilled water. Next remove your coins and either pat dry with a soft cloth or allow the coin to air dry (air drying is better as you don't risk scratching the coin with the cloth). NEVER scrub your coins!

I would still advise you to leave your coins as they are. They may not be bright and shiny but that is what most collectors prefer.

Answer 2

Go with Big Ben, you don't clean coins for the value of them drops like a rock. You can use some distilled water and move the coins around in it, if the dirt comes off good, if not that is as far as you should go. The 1900 cent is not Worth that much in circulated grades and nothing if damaged so a child's very soft tooth brush can be used but lightly. The nickel is another story, for in middle to high circulated grades as well as mint state it does have more value, best to use water only or leave it alone. Most coins found in the soil will have actual damage where the minerals or acids in the soil actually eat at the coins metal. Any cleaning will leave a hole when the greenish material is removed. I have some large cents and colonial coins that are pitted and some with the green patina, they came from the ground. The pits and patina kind of give them class and I bet a good story to go with it.

Answer 3

If the copper is basically tarnished and darkish, take a small bowl and pour in some vinegar, and a few shakes of salt, and sleek the pennies around in that. that's going to brighten them up nicely. observe, even regardless of the indisputable fact that, that cleansing older funds destroys the numismatic value, if any.

Answer 4

Go here and read:

http://www.mycoincollecting.com/collecting/cleaning-coins.html

Answer 5

But the steel wool with the blue powder on it and scrub.

Answer 6

yes u can clean them get bleach and almondo buy becareful with that suff make sure to where gloves and gogles to protect yur eyes. soak it about 4 two hrs. proceed with caution ok.

i know about this trust me!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 7

No, no, no, no. It will wreck your coins and reduce their value.

Answer 8

don't clean it have a cleaner clean it someone experience in it

Answer 9

soak them in coke-cola