Hi there, I just recently registered to ask a question. I recently wanted to get back into coin collecting, so I think it would be a good idea for me to ask this here. I used to collect coins back in the early 2000s, and I had quite a few old mercury cents, wheat cents, etc. Eventually I lost interest, and my collection remained in my closet for a few years. Cut to August 2005, me and my family are running from Hurricane Katrina. It hits, and we got 8 feet of water in our house. We left so fast that lots of things were left back, including my coin collection. Now, apparently my mom and dad salvaged a lot of my collection into a jar when gutting our old house. A lot of it has been hit by chemicals in the water, and whatever else was there at the time. My question is, should I hold on to it and keep it in my new collection, or just keep them off to the side? I really don't know if I should include them in my new collection or not. Even if not, I'll hold on to them as they're a reminder of my home, and a part of history now. Thanks!
I would probably keep em separated and not mingle the new and old coins, I mean really, who knows what was in that water?
I would give them a few baths in acetone a few at a time. If they look nice, put them in with the rest of your collection.
I remember reading that cleaning coins is usually a bad idea. True, but coins pass through millions of hands a year. Who knows whats on your coins in general? :bigeyes:
You are correct that coins should not be cleaned. The acetone will only remove organic stuff. It won't do any harm to the coins but it can harm you if not used correctly.
If you don't want to run out and buy Acetone, just rinse those coins in warm distilled water. Allow to soak for a while, place on a soft towel and blow dry with a hair dryer. Almost anything from that dirty water will just rinse off. After that, they are just coins. However, you shouldn't really mix coins together anyway. They will get scratched, nicked, etc. They really should be in 2x2's, plastic flips, plastic rolls, Albums, etc. Sort of interesting about those Mercury Cents.
Why Acetone them? does anyone else realize the history/story they hold like this (value is down..but wont get better anyways..) stainless
That was some really nasty water. Sewage, gas, oil, trash and all kinds of household and industrial chemicals.
If silver sell it all, the copper is probably ruined - time to start again. If silver sell it all, the copper is probably ruined - time to start again.
This is what I would do in your situation; I would acetone bathe the coins I wish to keep for all the same reasons as mentioned above. I would then unload all the coins that have lost their eye appeal on ebay. Then I would just continue on collecting.... this is my opinion, personally I wouldn't be bothered by selling coins with sentimental value, Others could never sell them , and others would never keep them.
To be honest a lot of it looks fine. I think it's probably because a lot of it was on a higher shelf, and the water rose and went down a bit before settling. And I meant silver dimes. I'm going to go through some of it soon. I might post pictures. I can say that the steel pennies didn't have a chance. Also, question. Do you think the coins are okay as long as I don't scrub them? They've probably been in chemicals, but most coins have at some point. I might drop them in some warm water if thats all it takes to save them.
We can't see them. Soak in water and or acetone and post some images. You are correct in not scrubbing them.
Steel pennies never did have a chance anywhere. Do not Scrub coins. Warm DISTILLED water should dissolve any left over stuff. Allow to dry after with the help of a hair dryer on warm, not hot. Many coins have been in worse situations than you could imagine and somehow still exist anyway.
Use the acetone, I use to use in on electronic to clean the parts. Use some type of gloves, place the coins in a small type of basket and dip them in. DO RUB THE COINS. Place them on one of the lint free towels and place another lint free towel on top and then let them dry. Good luck. -O)
Would have given every little coin that I have, a bath. But do not dare to do it as I have read it somewhere that it is a bad idea.
