HI, I know there are lots of threads about cleaning coins but I'd need some cleaning advice concerning this specific problem. I own part of my late grandfather's collection and he used to keep some of the coins in plastic boxes containing some kind of foam (which is decomposing and sticking to the coins). Should I clean them? And how? Thanks! Ben.
If you have foam padding sticking to the coins, try a soak in a product called Goo Gone. I use it to remove stickers from slabs and have used it to remove gunk from coins succesfully without discoloration. Next step is acetone for the glue and hard to disolve residue. This would be called conserving, not cleaning in this case, and do it gently and do it under a watchful eye. Kepp us posted before you take further steps.
"GooGone" is very similar to lighter fluid. I got beat up pretty good when I suggested it for gentle soaking/cleaning. Guess it depends on who's suggesting it. Anyway IMHO either works well w/no ill effects.
I tried soaking one of the coins in Goo Gone but a lot of foam still stuck on the piece. I guess acetone would be the next step. Ben.
Say "preserve" and not clean. It really depends on who is on the board at the time - there are several members who bounce off walls when you suggest cleaning or preserving of any sort. Even on common date, low grade coins. So don't take it personally.
If you want to keep it you got to get that foam off the coin while doing the least amount of damage possible. Only that middle one would I work on. If it is really glue to the Platenta, them your stuck with a damaged coin. Ruben
Say "preserve" and not clean. It really depends on who is on the board at the time - there are several members who bounce off walls when you suggest cleaning or preserving of any sort. Even on common date, low grade coins. So don't take it personally. I didn't take it personally and actually it was kinda cool confirming someone else was doing what I had been doing with success. I know, bad term that "clean" word. Also Hydrogen Peroxide works great "preserving" copper as well. Next up is the electrolysis thing I think, just for fun. :smile
Good luck with your soaking & gentle working away of the gunk. Do not rub the surface of the coin especially with anything abrasive. Avoid rubbing with toothbrushes or cleaning cloths etc. If you rub, then you can leave microscopic cleaning lines (or worse) and most coin collectors will classify it as a cleaned coin and not want it. BTW, that is a nice Greenland coin in the lower right. Very best regards, collect89
any rubbing you do with your bare fingers while rinsing under water. Never said anything about a toothbrush or other foreign objects. That indeed will scratch, as you say.
Extra soft tooth brushes used with the coin submerged IN a plate of mineral or olive oil should not leave scratches. Has anyone used this method and seen resulting scratches?
