It's all brown and has fragments of finger prints on it. I need a SAFE way of cleaning it. No ketchup or nail cleaning liquid. Answers from numismatists please.
2007-12-06 07:25:16 · 5 answers · asked by EA 3 in Games & Recreation ➔ Hobbies & Crafts
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.
2007-12-06 11:42:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is no safe way of cleaning it. The finger prints have actually eaten into the coin. Unless it is a proof Eagle or one of the scarcer dates, it is only worth silver value anyway. So a dip in silver jewelry cleaner may at least get rid of the oxidation. Rinse in distilled water pat dry with soft cloth. Do not use silver jewelry cleaner on collectible coins.
2007-12-06 11:46:57 · answer #2 · answered by Taiping 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hells no. Metals are a terrible investment. in case you want some silver eagles with the aid of fact they're cool to verify then superb. Get 'em. Metals are relatively speculative. expenses are extreme real now too. exceedingly plenty the different investment outperforms metals over the years. I heard one guy on the radio say that an oz.. of gold offered in 1920 for 20 money may well be properly worth over 600 right this moment mutually as the 20 dollar bill might nonetheless merely be properly worth 20. real, assuming you stored it on your wallet for 87 years. the comparable 20 invested in shares may well be properly worth 80 grand. Like I pronounced, purchase 'em in case you like 'em. positioned money into some thing else.
2016-10-10 10:05:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
there are professional conservators of coins over at treasureforum.net that will answer this
good luck
2007-12-06 07:42:35 · answer #4 · answered by BMS 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
soak it in coca-cola for one hour and then dry them with a towel.
2007-12-06 09:25:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋