Should you ever clean a coin?

Well, perhaps I just proved the opposite of what I thought. I still haven't gained anything, except to know a little closer the year. I still have a cruddy looking copper coin worth it's weight in copper, ha.

Perhaps a real chemist could have done something with this coin, but it would never have anye luster again.

Perhaps Ruben should answer this threads question.

 

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Why I carry an equivalent to a BS in chemistry that was an aside to my Pharmacy degree, my doctorate was a sub-specially of Physical Chemistry. I'm not really that kind of chemist. Outside of using Stansous Flouride, I wouldn't know. Paul is an Metorologist and has a much greater practical background and also I think Jim is a practicing chemist.

Ruben

 

I don't think anyone could have brought back the date. Nickle coins ( 25% + 75% copper) are the only ones I think the date can be restored at the expense of the coin surface. I seem to remember that the reason was the date and devices were hardened by the striking pressure more than the surrounding area, and that acids would attack the surrounding areas until they were eaten below the date level and the date could then be seen. Whether true or not, I am not sure, but it does make some sense. :goofer: Copper and silver coins are not affected similarly.

Jim

 

I carry a BS in Metallurgy but have not used my degree in over 12 years. I still understand basic principles of metals but fixing that coin is way beyond my area of expertise. Besides, I don't recommend trying to fix coins. I recommend buying coins that don't need to be fixed.

 

Well, if anybody thinks that they can do anything with this coin, I will gladly send it to them.

I'd like to see what a real pro can do.

By the way, you can keep the coin.

Now who wants a shot at it?

Or draw straws?

 

That makes thermal dynamic sense and I always assumed that was the case for Buffalo nickels. There is more delta G potential where the surface is that on the higher parts of the dates. This is true for all coins though. Its likely that the nickel is so darn hard that the differentiation is greater.

That being said, how about removing the corrosion/crud? I assume it is oxidation, not that oxidation can just be reversed and an intricate design restored. That would be a violation of the third law.

Ruben

 

Odd you say that. Way, way back I thought the same thing. So in 1959 I made this and those coins have never looked better. On my desk since then.

Then at a flea market I purchased this for a paper weight many years ago. Oddly enough it cost me $1.00

It too never needs cleaning and it too has been on my desk for many years. So your correct in how to preserve coins.

 

Now that's real protection Carl!
The bottom picture is at Pyramid with a Morgan on top at an angle? The pic has my depth perception buggered up. Is the pyramid silver? Looks pretty kewl.
Chuck

 

I've got something similiar on my desk Carl. Picked mine up at a garage sale about 20 years ago for a buck.

 

So it seems the coin is no longer a coin because noboby can touch it.

 

Truly a slabbed coin, or maybe a multi slab?
Can't touch a slabbed coin either.

 

Photo is a little deceiving. It is pyramid in shape but the face of the coin is really on the side of a the pyramid. If put in a pyramid stance, the bottom of the coin would be face up. Also, the writting of Continental Bank is on the inside.

 

I like those too. I too made a letter opener way, way back when I made the pen holder but gave it to the, at the time, love of my life. Inside was her name in coins. Lucky she had a short name.
I used to put all kinds of items in liquid plastic back then. Made a Chess table with the top completely in that liquid plastic. With large hands I never could find decent gun grips so made my own out of that plastic with India Ink added for looks.

 

I like the pryamid thingy. That's something you don't see everyday. I've had quite a few clients comment on my opener and paperweight. It's an ice-breaker to get to talking about coins.

 

Meanwhile back to that coin that may need a cleaning.
At this time I would like to suggest experimenting with the numerous household available substances. Some may and many will not work but not much to loose from the looks of that coin.
A search on this web site for coin cleaning would show people that swear by using Olive Oil, Vinegar, Lemon Juice, Tomato Juice, lighter fluid, Baking Soda and water paste, dish soap, laundry soap, Comet cleanser, jewlery cleaners and almost anything in your kitchen. Also, saw at a place called ACE hardware a gelly substance used to renew Aluminum screens. I wonder how that would work on that coin.
Put the coin in a glass, Pyrex, container with distilled water and heat gradually.
Of course there is always battery acid.

 

Yep, Battery acid, dynamite, nitroglycerin, but the authorities might not like some of those.
I was wondering about a glass of Coke, but that would probably eat the whole darn thing completely up. I've heard it will anyway.
Appreciate the other ideas. I'll try another concoction next, but I'm afraid that I've already lost the chance to obtain the date, as I believe the date was almost worn off anyway, plus the pitting, but what do I have to lose....as long as I'm careful.
Thanks Carl