Every now and then you run access a coin and you think wow that’s pretty...I’m not a big fan of the shield cents because most all that you find in pocket chain are totally disgusting! I found a shied cent that was actually a pretty penny, it makes me wonder why some of them tone much better than the others. I doubt there is any value to this one but I’m keeping it just because it’s a real handsome one.[/ATTACH]0
Yea.. Pretty.. Pretty dirty Sweat, body fluids, and stuff I don't want to mention tone the surface. Wash your hands after handling coins.. I always do! Sorry Vangie.
Lol ueeeeee yes I’m a Health Care worker and a germ a phobic..it’s a wonder that I even find pleasure in this knowing all the funky..nastee that is on them. The experts say don’t clean them but does that include mild soap and water too?
hey Vangie Gwinn, not a fan of the shield penny either but every now and then one comes around that's pretty cool. put it in a 2x2 flip and keep it. good luck
There are a few things that make cleaning go wrong: 1) Rubbing. Don't rub coins with anything. Even soapy fingers can drag bits of sharp dirt across the coin and leave scratches. 2) Chemical reactions. Ketchup (or its ingredients, vinegar and salt) will turn a coin bright by dissolving away the oxides on the coin's surface -- but they won't stop there. They'll start to dissolve the metal as well, leaving tiny pits. 3) Residue. Anything water leaves behind on your coin can form deposits, or even react chemically with the coin (see above). If you just soak a coin in distilled water, then let it dry without rubbing it, you're unlikely to damage it. To be honest, if you soak it in soapy water and rinse it thoroughly with tap water, then once with distilled water, you may be fine. And if it's just a common circulated coin, don't worry much about it. Try different things, and see what they do. Just bear in mind that the longer you spend looking at coins, the more you'll be able to see -- and evidence of cleaning is something that long-time collectors really don't like to see.
copper has antimicrobial properties. don't listen to the germophobes. Just don't eat it or rub your eye and you'll be fine!
Properly cleaning a coin you want to 'clean' is being done right if you take an approach of conservation rather than cleaning. Like Jeff said...no rubbing, ever. To loosen dirt just swish around or let it sit for a bit in some diluted vinegar. Then swish it in clean water or distilled water and set it on a paper towel to dry or hold it tight by the edges and give it a blast of canned air, carefully so you don't blow it away lol! To remove deeper biological material and some other stuff without harming the coin's original surface give it a dip or let it sit for a while in acetone, which will also help protect the coin's future by drawing out any moisture from it. Don't rinse this time just swish in the acetone and set it on a paper towel and it will dry quickly. If the acetone is really dirty from the 'conservation' give it a swish in some fresh acetone. Remember to cover the acetone since it evaporates pretty quickly and if it all evaporates while your coin is in there you will just let a bunch of gunk resettle on the coin.
No, acetone from the hardware store. 100% about $6 a qt Nail polish remover has oils, fragrance, and stuff ...to keep your nails from cracking
No, not nail polish remover! That will damage the coin. Acetone industrial grade from a hardware store. Nail polish remover has other additives that are not good on coins.
Like they emphatically said NO! not nail polish remover Get good acetone, it's cheap. Use in a well ventilated place or outside!