Coin cleaning

What are your opinions on cleaning vinegar for coin cleaning? Should I use or no way? I tested some dimes and they came out bright shiny and beautiful....
The coins I have I might be interested in selling someday if I'm offered. Will using this drop the value (if any)?

 

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A coin that is cleaned will have a lower value than an uncleaned one. Cleaning so it's not noticeable is an art very few have perfected. Best not to clean anything

That said, there us nothing wrong with practicing on pocket change. Just don't do it on anything you want to keep

 

I don't know of anyone who uses vinegar in a laboratory EXCEPT to clean the glassware. There must be some exception but I don't recommend it for cleaning coins.

BTW, I have found that most folks prefer a bright, shiny, polished coin to one in its original MS condition. Those people are often coin collectors. They are not numismatists.

 

The cleaning of coins is not good. Vinegar is not a cleaner but it will work. It also hurts the coin in the long run. Best not to use it. Cleaned coins will have a lower value than an unclean coin. If it’s a modern coin it’s still not worth it.

 

You remind me of the VERY OLD joke about the dad who says to his son, "Now, if you're a good boy, I'll give you this bright, shiny, new penny." "Aw, Dad," the son replied, "how about a battered up old quarter?"

 

Actually in the "Silver And Gold Penny" experiment, most sites recommend "cleaning" the pennies with a mixture of vinegar and table salt! Other than that, I was surprised when I searched and found out acetic acid (5% acetic acid is vinegar) is a weaker acid than citric.

 

untouched is always the best practice

 

The only time vinegar is really acceptable is for dating dateless buffalos. I have a good thread from years ago where I outline the method.

In short, peroxide and apple cider vinegar will reveal dates and mint marks on any nickel coin - buffalo, liberty, shield. You typically lose 50-90% if the book value, but at least you know the date.

 

nothing like the feel of an original coin

 

And not to dredge up old arguments, but vinegar without the peroxide also works, more slowly and controllably.

 

Salt is abrasive and will scratch the surface, even if dissolved.

 

If salt is is completely dissolved in water, it is no longer abrasive since there are only sodium and chlorine ions in the solution. These ions are 1-2 nanometers in size. It is still chemically reactive.

If there is still a small amount of undissolved salt in the solution, that can be abrasive, but dissolved salt cannot.

 

Acetone or nothing.

Z

 

I go with a bath in water first and acetone next if needed. Never rubbing the coin in any way.

 

Idk I’d rather see the date on a buffalo than have a slick.

 

But is it worth affecting value ?

 

A dateless buffalo is worth somewhere between $0.05 and $0.25. A dated buffalo is usually worth more than $0.25, even acid dated, if it’s a good date. I’ve sold acid dated buffalos for as much as $8 each.
Make your own decision.

 

Abrasive if dissolved !!!???

 

Salt displaces in water but a science teacher told me that it does not dissolve completely. It will always have fine, almost trace amounts of granular items in the water.

 

Only if you try to do solve too much salt in a given amount of liquid. At room temp, you should be able to dissolve approx 5 teaspoons of salt in 100 ml (3.3 ounces or 2 shot glasses)