What is the best method of cleaning coins? As a kid, I used tooth paste. Recently heard that some people use toilet bowl cleaner. I saw on a TV show of using sulfur powder. Ideas? Thanks.
Being a new member I believe you are genuine in your query. Seldom if ever is there really any good reason to clean a coin. I own a beautiful two center that was dug up in the 1980’s. Probably near an AU coin except it’s filthy. While you may impart something appealing to your eye, you will invariably create damage to the piece with most any cleaning method. And know this... Toothpaste is horribly abrasive. I have been known to use toothpaste to level out paint on a car.
You only use toothpaste on a coin that has no value, and you want to shine it up. Never clean coins. Some can be conserved, but you have to know what you are doing. Acetone will remove organic material and not harm the surface metal of the coin. Cleaning scrubs off a layer of metal on the coin and greatly diminishes the value by ruining the coin. Once scrubbed the coin will never be original again. Acetone won't remove a lot of things, but it doesn't harm the coin.
OK, iPen was on target. I first thought he was kidding. Great to know that. Sorry for doubting you iPen.
iPen, Your signature says you like turtles. Nothing to truly do with them, but familiar with the turtle ships of Korea?
Yes, he was 100% serious. Acetone and Xylene will not react or affect the metal, and is really about the only substance that anyone but the professionals should use. Just don't use nail polish remover - it has other chemicals/fragrances/additives that can harm the coin. Oh, and don't smoke while using either, and use them in a well-ventilated area. And welcome to CT!
I collect turtle related coins/medals. So naturally, yes I collect the turtle ship design coins, too. I wrote up a thread on CoinTalk here.
Best thing to do is just say no to cleaning a coin. There’s all sorts of downside that can’t be reversed. Conservation should be done by a professional.
There's something that a lot of folks seem to forget. Namely that there are a ton of books, written by people who are supposed to know what they are doing when it comes to coins. Some of them even very respected names in numismatics. And on top of all the books there are literally hundreds of thousands of websites - all of them, books and websites, tell you about a hundred different ways to clean coins. And just about every single one of them is wrong ! If you follow their directions you will ruin your coins ! The point I am trying to get across to people here is that when a new member, or even an old member of the forum asks about stuff like this - they often do so because they are going by what they have read and been told is the right way to do things when it comes to cleaning coins ! So it's not that they are "trolling" or anything of the kind - they are usually quite serious because they think they can trust the references they have found. Even on this forum, over the years there has been more bad information about how to go about cleaning coins than you can even imagine ! So please folks - don't jump to conclusions, give a guy the benefit of the doubt. By all means, give them the good information, help them. Tell them that there are 4, just 4, safe ways/methods for collectors to clean coins - IF you know what you are doing when you use them. 1 - distilled water 2 - acetone 3 - xylene 4 - coin dip That's it. One should never use any other method unless they are a professional.
