Coin cleaning

[Guest]

Yeah I know don't clean the coin!! Since I started building a collection of regular Lincoln's and not varieties I have been looking at the teens and twenties a lot. At shows and on the Internet for price and grade research. Now there is now way that a circulated 1914 -D (example) in fine condition or xf gets put in a PCGS holder that does not have some dirt in the lettering or date. So what or how are all the nice coins I have been looking at have a good look to them. They have had to have a bath of some sort.
Just wondering before I start my purchases did this on mobile sry if I skipped some verbs and such.

[GrumpyEd]

There's a difference between "cleaning" and "washing".

Some coins are lucky and go through life without being stained or getting junk stuck on the surface.
Some get dirty but it can be washed off without harming the surfaces.
Sometimes the junk can not be removed without hurting the surface.

Stuff like rinsing with water or acetone is not cleaning, as long as the surfaces are not altered and it only gets junk off then the coin is still not cleaned.

Doing anything to a coin with anything abrasive or anything that removes the surface makes it a cleaned coin.

Almost all old circ coins have been wet at some point in their life, it's part of normal use.

It's best to learn to tell the difference between coins with original surfaces and ones that were cleaned or stripped and re-toned.

[jfines69]

I believe the grading companies offer a conservation service... It would cost an arm and a leg but in some cases it is worth the cost to prevent any further deterioration of the coin!!!

[jhcons]

Ok so for some of my older Lincoln's that have grime on them I could soak in water to get the grime off. With mild liquid soap? And for how long.
Is acetone better?

A little trick I learned from someone hear along time ago was a rose bush thorn will grime and stuff of the mm or other areas without scratch the surface as the actual tip is very soft.

I am not trying to clean any coins but as you said wash. If you could answer the above questions for me I would appreciate it. And any other advice on the washing part.

[Maineman750]

No soap ! try this sub forum http://lincolncentresource.net/forum...splay.php?f=35

[jhcons]

No soap ! try this sub forum http://lincolncentresource.net/forum...splay.php?f=35

Will read that when I get home. thanks fellas!!
I know it is hard to tell if coins have been cleaned by pics but will you guys look at a few if I post some here tonite. I been looking at stuff I have not looked at in ten or more yrs. I know I got duped on my 31-s. NOW
I should be home in two hrs. Been driving for hrs. Almost home.

[GrumpyEd]

Some good stuff in the link.

Maybe the best advice is try doing the least that you can.
For most things going beyond a rinse with acetone and a gentle prod with a thorn should be avoided.
If that won't do it then it may not be something that can be easily removed.

Like anything else it's best to practice on some worthless coins.

For a really special coin, conservation by a pro might be worth it like jfines69 said.

For red copper it's tougher, almost anything you do will change the look of the coin, even acetone will change the color to some extent.

[jhcons]

Hey this is informative. Wish I had a coin that was worth paying to get washed. Lol. I was just curious about how they look so good. I mean the old ones. I have been even looking at eBay stuff from guys here. I think I got my answer. Now I just want to see if those couple I mentioned earlier are cleaned or what. Gut says the 16 d is. The 15 I hope it isn't cause I like it Lot

[Steven]

Move to coin cleaning sub forum.

[jhcons]

Well I am going to give this washing a shot. I had this marked as rpm and was just checking before I chunk in pile of circulated crap. It may be the omm#2 we shall see tomorrow night after a good wash.

[copperlover]

For coins with some luster,no washing with soap,no thorns,no oils .A brief acetone wash is acceptable as long as you know how to do it.

Lucien

[jhcons]

For coins with some luster,no washing with soap,no thorns,no oils .A brief acetone wash is acceptable as long as you know how to do it.

Lucien

Thanks I would love to know how to do it

[jhcons]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1927-Lincoln-Cent-Gem-Uncirculated-Better-Date-Nice-Color-Free-Shipping-/200922518059?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item2ec7ea522b#ht_4543wt_842

this is what I was talking about. how is these coins looking like that?

[Antiquity]

An uncirculated (like the one pictured) coin wouldn't get any junk on it as it saw no or very light circulation. When you buy bags of wheats or pull them from circulation they generally have been used and abused.

[coop]

Experiment on useless coins first to get your technique down, before ruining a collectable coin.