Coin Doctoring- TarnX.

I've never been successful in cleaning silver coins with tarnx, it makes them "porus" and dull.

It was something I did a few years ago anyway.

Tonight, as I was putting the bottle back up, after cleaning some jewelry, I noticed it said "for copper", amongst the other metals.

I took a 1969 cent, that was UNC, but had darkened a bit.

Threw it in a dish of tarn-x for 2 seconds, and patted it dry.

The brown was gone, mint red was back. I compared it to a mint red penny from 2013, no variation in color.

The coin did not feel porus, no breaks in luster were present.

Even under high magnification, there was no evidence of cleaning.

Could this process be used to convert MS Brown cents to MS Red? I'm not sure.

If the brown is too brown, it will pale in color, but a slight to mild brown appears fine. Your results may vary.

I also noticed it does not work well at all on circulated coins.

This is a Centavo from the 50s that had turned brown. Tarnx made it look like new.

 

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This is one of the worst ideas possible. Don't use this junk on any coin. Why would you post something like this Tim? You should know better.

 

Because more people should experiment, especially with low-value coins.

I don't recommend using it on anything of value, due to risk, but it's fun to clean modern pennies up with.

 

Never mind Tim. You will never understand.

 

It has a wax polish in it , and when it wears off, the copper really gets ugly or Uglier. Experiments are fun, but don't be like the former honored scientists who "discovered cold fusion" and faced a sad future as scientists.

 

Didn't know that, thought it was just a mild acid with detergent, if it's waxy, I will keep it away from coins.

 

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Tim,

Below is a quote from someone I know you have absolute faith in, and if he realized this then, surely you can now.

http://www.cointalk.com/t218706/[/FONT]

 

side note- You should hold coins from the edges and not place them in your hand. The oils on your fingers have now come into contact with the bottom face of the coin.
But I am sure you already knew that...

 

You can't make this stuff up.

 

How many times do collectors have to say this OVER and over--DO NOT CLEAN COINS!! Oi vay!

 

Great idea, Chief. I never thought of pressure washing (or steam cleaning) my coins. Do you think it would work better with vinegar or baking soda thrown into the mix?

 

Don't forget to add some salt....

 

Tarn-X? Rock tumbler? Oh, the choices we have to make.

 

Someone needs to learn how to blend the edges in Photoshop.

 

Now that is funny :yes:

 

Tarn-X is death to copper coins.

 

Just doing his part in the elimination of the cent.

 

Also the elimination of common cents.

 

Why would you do a post about how your cleaned a US Cent... then post a Mexican Centavo?