http://gometaldetecting.com/electrolysis_cleaning.htm What do you guys think about this for cleaning coins. Is it as harsh on coins as chemicals? I am wanting to do this on dug coins.
I have already done that. None of them have talked about electrolysis. I don't like the chemical cleaning and was wondering if this would be better for dug coins found with a metal detector.
It can plate them depending on how the negative positive cables are hooked up. But it can also separate dirt.
It plates one from another that it is cleaning (removing metal from). I have never used it on coins. A 2500 gallon vessel, but not a coin. It removes metal and it removes it preferentially from the high points. Now what in that line makes anyone think it is acceptable for coins? "Is it as harsh on coins as chemicals?" Electrolysis can be tuned to anywhere across the spectrum as can "chemicals". However, I doubt that the super mild electrolysis would do any improvement type cleaning.
I've used the process to remove rust from car parts and can say that it does that job well, but it also removes good metal and alters the part's surface. Car parts - Good; coins - BAD.
I've seen some great work done with electrolysis on ancient coins. The primary problem is that it tends to strip the patina, requiring artificial repatination (which some people frown upon). More importantly, if the underlying coin is corroded, it can remove large chunks that one would otherwise attempt to keep on, in a simple mechanical cleaning. The biggest issue with electrolysis is, however, the skill of the individual doing the work. A 'professional' can clean a coin up marvelously with minimal damage. But an amateur can destroy a piece in seconds. Here's an otherwise nice Maxentius bronze, ruined by too much time under the wire:
I have used electrolysis on coins and ideed it will remove everything off the coin (it will not plate it unless you are doing it wrong), all dirt as well as patina will just come right off. If done right it will not take off any detail at all, in fact, even when I kept it in too long it did not remove any metal from the coin...it just stripped it of every speck of dirt and non-metalic substance and left nothing but shiney metal. I would only use it in the most extreme cases of encrustation. It is used by conservationist who find super encrusted coins...my advice would be not to do it.
I've seen electrolysis work well in some instances when a coin is encrusted. http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,176665.0.html On most dug coins though that I think might be special I wouldn't start out with electrolysis though but use a peroxide bath for a few hours. http://home.comcast.net/~slospokes2/1820beforeafter.gif
I did it on some ancients I got off Ebay a few years ago. I used salt. The bad thing is that after completing the process I had a few coins that had gold on them but had sections of the gold missing. I don't know if the coin underneath was corroded or not, but remember that the later Roman coins were made of a material then coated with gold or silver. Electrolysis may remove some of the overlay (or like I said they may have been corroded underneath). Alot of people soak them in Olive oil for like a month then clean them off (water or whatever I don't remember Google will help) You probably aren't gonna get a great coin from Ebay so if that's what you are doing and aren't real patient, it can be fun, but if you want to keep them or sell, find another method.
