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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Drusus, post: 755569, member: 6370&quot;]IMO GD is only right about the secrecy when it comes to those who clean coins...they do clean but will not share the info. Most people either don&#039;t know (including people trying to give advice) and if they know they wont tell because they are either making money off those who don&#039;t know or by typical messed up logic, they think they are saving coins from improper cleaning...Now, of course, if they told you the proper way, that would at least help those who are determined to try but what ever. On the whole though, most people giving advice like this &#039;all cleaning is harmful&#039; probably havent even test or tried these things, they just dont know. I am no different save I have tried almost every cleaning method I have been able to find information about so if nothing else, I have at least tried what I am talking about first hand.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I wont bicker with anyone about anything here as, in the end, it preference and opinion. Some people will tell you rubbing a coins surface with a very soft cotton cloth will harm metal. I will let that statement stand on its own and let people use their own judgment and common sense regarding such a statement that cotton scratches metal. Some will have you believe that just touching a coins surface will harm it (without doubt if you have dirty greasy hands <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> ). One merely needs to take a penny and rub it with a soft cotton cloth to get your answer as to whether that harms a coin. I have...if someone tells you something as fact, test it out on a cheap coin.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I certainly am not saying one should do anything to a coin that will scratch it up and harm it. But I will not be looking at my coins under 100X or 1000x magnification looking for microscopic scratches either...mainly because I know I will find them because all my coins (save a very small handful) are circulated and old...they will have micro scratches and even some that can be seen with the naked eye. They have been touched and touched again and in peoples pockets and purses.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>When I photograph my coins I take them out and lay them on a black cloth...some would say just this act will harm a coin. I have even been told not to talk around a coin as spittle might come out of my mouth and fall on the coin!!I</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>One guy who seems to have quite the influence has even made the absurd statement that cleaning has NEVER improved a coin...Needless to say, I do not concur and I have seen SO MANY coins improved by just the minimum of cleaning...and by that I mean just a soak in distilled water even. I have seen oil do WONDERS for a grimy an old copper or bronze coin. Remove the oil easily and you have a relatively clean coin. Yes I have even used a very soft bristle brush and thorn to remove crud from inside letters and details. You will see no evidence of it with the naked eye I assure you.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>To each is own I say but I have come to the conclusion some time ago that I don&#039;t want dirt on my coins...tone...sure...not dirt. Eye appeal is more important to me than micro scratches which are on all circulated coins and are not produced by soft material anyway. Less things mark a coins surface than some would have you believe. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>As for Electrolysis, I have used this method on ancient coins but never modern. This method WILL strip patina right off and it just seems far more harsh than most coins need so I have only used in on uncleaned ancients that I have allowed to soak for many months and tried manual cleaning to no avail...then and only then would I use this method...and then I have resigned myself to the idea that a stripped ancient coin is better than one encased is stone.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Electrolysis, if done right, will not pit a coin...the coin cleaned with Electrolysis is often pitted because the layer taken off of the coin (the patina that so many love) is corrosion and has already pitted the coin. I have zapped a coin that had hard deposits on it, the deposits came off with no pitting save where the hard deposit was. I am not saying that it WONT pit a coin if zapped too long, but it wont pit if done right...do light zaps and dont zap it for long each time...dont hook it up and forget about it....take your time, use care. Thats true with everything. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Most often, a good long soak in distilled water will do wonders to an old crusty coin.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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