A pretty penny

Discussion in 'Error Coins' started by Vangie Gwinn, Feb 23, 2021.

  1. Vangie Gwinn

    Vangie Gwinn Member

    C843A6AC-41A1-4BB6-A806-A111CBE8CA91.jpeg 7D1A8CD1-9EFE-4159-9007-443FD4945B62.jpeg 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 7D1A8CD1-9EFE-4159-9007-443FD4945B62.jpeg
     
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  3. paddyman98

    paddyman98 I'm a professional expert in specializing! Supporter

    Yea.. Pretty.. Pretty dirty :yack:

    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.
     
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2021
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  4. Vangie Gwinn

    Vangie Gwinn Member

    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?
     
  5. mike estes

    mike estes Well-Known Member

    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
     
  6. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    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.
     
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  7. John Burgess

    John Burgess Well-Known Member

    copper has antimicrobial properties. don't listen to the germophobes. Just don't eat it or rub your eye and you'll be fine!
     
  8. Fred Weinberg

    Fred Weinberg Well-Known Member

    Or pick out a Nice Red one from circulation.
     
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  9. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    Best not to clean them. They tone due to whatever they have come in contact with.
     
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  10. Kurisu

    Kurisu Well-Known Member

    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.
     
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  11. paddyman98

    paddyman98 I'm a professional expert in specializing! Supporter

    Gee I wonder.. why? o_O
     
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2021
  12. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    I'd be afraid vinegar on copper would leave an unnatural color.
     
  13. Vangie Gwinn

    Vangie Gwinn Member

    Thanks great info...and acetone were talking about finger nail polish remover?
     
  14. Heavymetal

    Heavymetal Well-Known Member

    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
     
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  15. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    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.
     
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  16. Kurisu

    Kurisu Well-Known Member

    Like they emphatically said NO! not nail polish remover :D
    Get good acetone, it's cheap. Use in a well ventilated place or outside!
     
  17. manny9655

    manny9655 Well-Known Member

    I would add, soda pop is also a no-no. I've seen what it can do to copper on circuit boards.
     
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