How to Clean Coins

No, I don't mean dip or clean them in a non-ethical way.

I mean, taking gunk off a quarter..

I recently aquired a 1932-D quarter in a pile of junk silver I bought from a dealer the other day and it's probably graded AG.

I want to clean it up to take the gunk off.

What do you guys think?

bnb

 

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ms-70 coin cleaner does wonders with gunk.dirt,and gum.If you don't have any use baking soda and water.If you don't have that use vinegar and salt or goo gone or soak coins in olive oil for a week

 

Acetone.

 

BNB, I highly urge you to use the CT search function in the toolbar above each page, this question is discussed endlessly all the time.

MS-70 cleaner is one of the best retail solutions available to clean up a coin but it DOES remove tone and provides a blast white look to a silver coin giving you a surface as the name of the product implies. Be aware of that result.

In your thread search, look for the discussions that provide information on Acetone and the safety steps you should take to use it properly. Doug addresses them very well in his responses.

 

Post some before/after pics.

 

I would use Acetone - first put some in a dish that you can trash after you are done - put the coin in the Acetone and let it sit for a few min. Take coin out and put it in clean water.

Let it air dry -

Speedy

 

What do you mean by "Gunk"? Like dirt, or PVC?
If it is dirt, Acetone won't do anything.

 

Any numismatic newbie knows acetone is the tool for the job.

 

Yeah, but the job for what? Acetone isn't a fix all. It only works on certain things.

 

perhaps post a picture of the coin in question.

 

Acetone is probably best. It, at the very minimum, won't harm the coin from a collector standpoint.

 

i used vinegar and salt and some coins came out very clean and shiny(these are 90% silver so whatever) and some came out with spots. why did some come out with spots?

 

oh my word - well, one thing is for sure, you have a cleaned coin! LOL
Post a pic' if you don't mind!

Speedy

 

i already bagged them up. basically after cleaning the gunk of the 1932-d washy(which i did manually not through the strategies suggested above!!), i went ahead and then dipped a bunch of my junk silver(roos, wash, etc) that really needed it and some came out great and some came out with these dark purple spots.. lol? why was that you think?

 

yep, the salt is definitely abrasive

 

so do you think i maybe used too much salt? or should i have not used any? i just followed the poster above's advice for the salt & vinegar..

 

BNB:

I hope your 'bags' aren't plastic containing PVC. Bad stuff for coins, look it up.
But sandwich bags for food do not usually have PVC.

Seriously, look this stuff extensively before leaping in.

 

But where did you get your advice for the cleaning procedure using those materials? Please explain how you went about the cleaning process, time involved, did you scrub them? q-tip? cloths? wiping? how did you dry them? Did you take before and after pics like a poster above suggested?

 

You can try to place the ones with spots in acetone now. If it don't work, you may be stuck with what you have. I tried to clean some wheaties with taco bell sauce once and I left it for too long. TB sauce has vinegar and salt. Anyways, the coins are very delicate under vinegar and salt and you can't leave them for very long. You can try a small amount of dishwater soap and distilled water or acetone. I wouldn't be too willing to do anything more though. good luck

 

they are small food bags. and i took the advice from the poster above.. i just needed a quick solution to take gunk off the 1932-d quarter that i then used on some of my junk silver coins..