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I was wondering, does it really hurt the value of a coin if it is lightly buffed with baking soda and water? I use this method on some of my least valuable coins. It doesnt really remove the normal wear of the coin, but kinda makes the coin shine a little more. Do i need to stop? Is this not reccomended? Thanx
I think there are a lot of different camps on this, but all will agree to never "scrub" a coin. Some say never ever clean a coin. I'm not from that side, although I wouldn't recommend any kind of cleaning to anyone and be or feel responsible for possibly having a coin ruined. i will tell you what I do sometimes.
If its a coin I pull from a roll and it has too much dirt in the devices or crevices for me to see any possible notching or splits, then I bath it in mineral oil for a little while then gently use a old soft toothbrush to loosen the dirt. The key word is gentle. I then use a mild soap and warm water to wash away the dirt and oil and finally I take a q-tip and, again, gently wipe the coin with 90% alcohol.
I have cleaned large amounts of wheats that were really nasty dirty using a double boiler, hot water and baking soda. This can be an elaborate undertaking and if not done with the right temperature and timing this can alter the coins surface. Too much heat will turn the copper blue/purple. I really don't recommend this. I believe that BADTHAD has a substance that apparently he invented which I understand is quite popular and it's designed to remove verdigris. I haven't tried it yet but plan to in the future. Anyway, This is just my take on it. I'm sure you will hear many other thoughts and suggestions.
Good luck,
Rock
Rock
My LCR Photo Albumof Graded Lincoln Cent Cherry Picker Varieties
When I see "cleaning" posts I think of a Dr. Seuss book about a character named Pat who sits on items: "Pat sat on a bat," and so on; he eventually comes to a prickly cactus and as his rear approaches someone yells: "no Pat no, don't sit on that!"
Or in other words, don't clean coins. You can conserve (as Badthad likes to state), but you better practice on a lot of zero value coins first. Experienced collectors know a cleaned coin from 2 feet away - so trying to fool someone typically won't work, especial copper coins which tone unaturally if you do the wrong thing to the surface.
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is an abrasive base that will strip the coin and cause hairlines rendering it cleaned to any experienced collector.
Actually, the best and safest way to clean a non-valuable coin is to take it to the sink. Run water as hot as you can stand, hold the coin under the running water and rub it between your fingers. I've done this with hundreds of cents to remove heavy crud. Sometimes I'll even put a little liquid dish soap on my fingers to aid in the process. Of course, this is only for NON-VALUABLE coins that I find searching.
Often I can't even see the date and it's a necessary evil so I can see what I have. It's either that or toss it into the junk pile and I'd rather have a cleaned error/variety than not to have one. LOL
For more valuable coins, I like to first soak them in distilled water for about 24 hours. If that fails, I jump to acetone and/or xylene soaking. All of these solvents are coin safe and usually do the job.
For more valuable coins, I like to first soak them in distilled water for about 24 hours. If that fails, I jump to acetone and/or xylene soaking. All of these solvents are coin safe and usually do the job.
Again to the question of acetone, how long do you soak yours for? I've timed my coins in acetone, and I find the longer I let it soak the better they are to daub clean, but again, I don't know for the long run, (yet) if I have ruined a coin or not.
Bad, what do you deem an OK amount of time for acetone?
Again to the question of acetone, how long do you soak yours for? I've timed my coins in acetone, and I find the longer I let it soak the better they are to daub clean, but again, I don't know for the long run, (yet) if I have ruined a coin or not.
Bad, what do you deem an OK amount of time for acetone?
There is no set time, some coins I simply rinse, others I soak for up to 24 hours. If you don't see results within 24 hours, you're not going to see results. Be sure to rinse the coin with the same soaking solvent after you pull it out. If something did dissolve, you'll want it fully removed before the coin dries.
There's no need to "dab" the coin after acetone, simply remove it from the solvent, rinse with acetone and drop it in a paper towel. The acetone will evaporate away in seconds. You cannot ruin a coin from over soaking unless your solvent is impure. However, I generally don't recommend soaking any coin in any solvent for more than 24 hours.
Also, always follow the solvent polarity ladder if you're trying to remove an unknown surface debris. Soak for 24 hours max in each of these solvents in this order:
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