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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;USS656, post: 332397, member: 6641&quot;]I would start here:</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www.cointalk.org/showthread.php?t=1613" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.cointalk.org/showthread.php?t=1613" rel="nofollow">http://www.cointalk.org/showthread.php?t=1613</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Good Luck - Most people on this site swear off cleaning like you are summoning the devil himself.&nbsp; Cleaning will alter the surface and some cleaning will ruin the coin and make it look 10X worse than when you started.&nbsp; Try starting with pure Acetone and distilled water.&nbsp; Cleaning done by someone not experienced will be obvious to a trained eye.&nbsp; Some cleaning is absolutely necessary to stop further damage/corrosion.&nbsp; Do a search of threads on cleaning and you will find some interesting reading.&nbsp; First I would catalog the coins and start with coins that are in the worst condition/most worn/least valuable.&nbsp; Buy some books on the specific series so that you can identify them properly including varieties.&nbsp; Use the resources section of the web site for more specifics on what books to look for.&nbsp; If there is a chance the coin has some significant value - I would not clean it regardless of how it looks.&nbsp; Send it to a professional TPG for conservation. Coins like the 16D or a 17 type 1 quarter in mint or AU condition on the obverse; these are coins I would never try to do myself regardless of what was on them.&nbsp; We are all wishing we had your problem - have fun and take your time!!!!&nbsp; They have been in this condition for some time - a little longer will not hurt much although the exposure to oxygen may speed up the process.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><b>Disclaimer - you do all of this at your own risk!!!&nbsp; No one (including you) wants to see the coins damaged further.&nbsp;&nbsp; More importantly, no one wants to feel responsible for giving you advice that leads to further damage.</b></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Take before and after pictures!&nbsp; Remember the negative results of cleaning sometimes does not really show up for months when a coin all of the sudden starts to turn really ugly colors!&nbsp; Share results and documented process so that tips <u>might</u> be supplied.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Best Regards,</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Darryl</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>P.S. everyone - after three pages - someone had to give some suggestions other than do not clean them&nbsp; - the beating can commence now&nbsp; <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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