http://www.bcb.gov.br/?CONSCOINS the central bank of brazil... what do ya'll think? ( sorry, texas I know the great debate thathas been raging "NEVER CLEAN YOUR COINS" But i think most of us have tried it at times, I for one have several indian pennys that have corrosion on them i would like to get rid of and want to start experimenting... I digress, this was an interesting site i ran accross and i thought that some of you may be interested in it....
Thanks Ranchhand, Some pretty interesting reading. I had not thought much about how different metals react to one another.
I am growing more interested in the process of "conserving" coins... any one have any good information on the subject?
I guess it depends on what you call good information. This article talks about what NCS, Numismatic Conservation Services, does and does not do. It also contains a couple of links on the subject. Click Here Some time ago there was a report published in Coin World about some new product that would supposedly protect coins. You can read about that - HERE You should also be aware that to a large degree, the subject of whether a coin should be cleaned/conserved is a matter of opinion only. Even highly respected organizations such as museums and their personell can have widely varied opinions on the subject. For instance - it may shock you learn that the National Coin Collection held at the Smithsonian was cleaned routinely on a regular basis
Normally, I am in the "never clean your coins" camp. There are exceptions, however. Many of my coins were victims of PVC holders (and I thought I was protecting them). I thought I was going to poison myself with acetone getting all the goop off my Mercury dimes, including my XF 16-D.
I am of this opinion: Coins should only be conserved if they are in danger of permanent damage, for example PVC damage or corrosion. If nothing is done they will be destroyed and lost forever. If a coin is OK and not in danger of being destroyed then leave it alone! I think its very interesting that they encase some of the coins in an inert plastic for protection ( like super slabbing! ) As an example; they restore paintings that have environmental damage, they also preserve wooden ship wrecks, artifacts, etc. why would coins be exempt? the one thing i think is a sin is "polishing" or whizzing coins, thats not conserving, thats destroying!
