Cleaning your coins.

this thread is exactly on point to a question I posed in my introduction yesterday.. if anyone doesn't mind clicking over to the introductions and looking for me, i've posted two pictures of a peace dollar and wondering if the coin has been cleaned -- I have additional pictures if anyone thinks it is necessary/helpful to make a determination. Additionally then, are people saying that even soaking a coin in distilled water is cleaning the coin and can adversely affect value?

 

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Doug, I have a coin that I put under distilled water...although it has cartwheel luster...you can tell it has been cleaned, as the cartwheel luster isn't strong like it should be. This would certainly hurt the value, wouldn't it?


stainless

 

What was it then? All I did was rinse and dabbed it with a napkin to dry ( I was new..lol)


stainless

 

I have 20 silver uncirculated quarters and 8silver uncirculated dollars that I’ve unwisely stored in the flip sleeves for 12 years or so and now have a green haze to them. Do I need to dip them in Aceton and if so will that reduce their value? Thanks in advanced

 

Hey Doug, this is probably a dumb question, but if you let it airdry, couldn't it get water spots all over it?

just a thought...


stainless

 

Stainless, pure distilled water shouldn't leave water spots as the spots are the salts in non-distilled water which precipitates onto the coin. If a spot forms, try another brand. It is not unusual to find some salts in the "inexpensive" distilled water used for irons, humidifiers, etc. All methods of distillation production can produce contaminates. Distilled water stored in plastic vinyl bottles can contain vinyl chloride compounds. If the water tastes very flat or "plastic like", I would use other ....Theoretically.............however, the level of vinyl compounds and even chemicals like sodium, calcium, etc. is probably much higher in the household environment's air than in commercial distilled water......

If every coin you have is in an "airtite" holder for safety, then use lab grade distilled water.

Jim

 

Thank you for the advice
I wanted to make sure I didn’t compound my mistake

 

I have some old coins from my grandparents that look really used alot.
Some are dirty and have like black goo on them
Should I clean them, if so what would be the best way?
I have a jewelry cleaner will that work?

5TB

 

Do you know what the coins are?
You could always send it to me for cleaning. :goofer:

 

How do you dispose of the acetone once it's been used?

 

Down the drain....
Just dont get it on plastic, paint, or cabinets.

 

From MSDS

Acetone is not a hazardous air pollutant (HAP) under the federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.

Acetone is very biodegradeable and has more hazards due to use than accumulation in the environment. Regulations on recycling or disposable as hazardous materials vary from state and county of residence. Any stored acetone I may have that is no longer usable for coins due to dissolved plastics, pvc, etc from the coins, I can take to the Hazardous waste facility associated with my city trash company. The last time I took in a quart can, they had a funny smirk on their faces , as they are use to dealing with drum sizes. In many areas, only spills of 5000 gallons or more have to be reported as Hazardous.

Hope this helps,

Jim

​

 

For small unsed volumes of Acetone, need not worry about proper disposal..simply leave it open to a flameless atmosphere to evaporate quickly!

Therfore the non hazardous air polluant rating!
Always use MSDS sheets when working with an unfamiliar liquid and follow the suggestions listed as well as treatment guidelines. Wear gloves, yep the good ole snap the Doc give it and then says "grab your ankles, Son"


RickieB

 

OMG....
I have been melting plastic cars with it all day then sending it down the drain
oops.......

 

I've read thru most of this thread, and still dont know for sure if cleaning is bad or good.
I have cleaned a couple of coins with little value with a small amount of lava hand soap on my finger tips and rubbed with my fingers. I was able to shine it up as well.
I wanted to use this silver to drop in my drinking water for anti-biotic reasons.
The coin is worth the silver value, and very little else. A circulated well worn 1925 Peace dollar.