Coin Care Chemical

I have used olive oil to soak dug copper coins in. I had a AU details Indian head cent that was covered in green. Olive oil took most of that off and left a beautiful dark green patina on it. Then I washed all the old oil off with soap and rinsed with water.

I had that coin over a year, and did not notice any changes whatsoever.

 

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Yes.

 

BadThad, Do you think Isopropyl Alcohol would have any effect, positive or negative, for removal of oils on a coin?

 

Sure glad this old thread was brought back to life. It's very informative.

 

That's what I'm learning from reading this thread. It seems to be just a way to stop further damage to a coin you just want to keep, not a nice one.

 

I sometimes use a silver polish cloth on coins to clean them. Is this wrong? I only do it to coins I just like, not ones I know are special or really old.

 

Kelly Capone, posted: "I sometimes use a silver polish cloth on coins to clean them. Is this wrong? I only do it to coins I just like, not ones I know are special or really old."

I see dozens of coins every day that have been "ruined" by folks who just like them.

 

It's wrong. Silver polish cloth is abrasive. It leaves fine scratches on the coin, whether or not you can see them, and most collectors consider such coins "ruined". If you do it to a rare or old coin, you will greatly decrease the value you can get when selling the coin. Even if you keep the coin for the rest of your life, you've damaged it for whoever gets it after you're gone.

General advice: don't ever clean coins. Somewhat more specific advice: don't ever rub coins, or dip them in any kind of acid or "polish". There are exceptions, but there's a lot to learn before you can take advantage of them.

 

Side note: My Dad is a PHD Chemist (specifically he was a research chemist for the biggest detergent company on planet Earth at the time, Unilever) yes really...many years ago he told me for even better and safer surface cleaning of coins...Xylenes.
More powerful and safer than acetone but I only use it very rarely and with VERY good reason...like when I had old dried motor oil or grease all over a rare error coin from an old roll.
It's no joke though, smells like Amyl Nitrate on steroids so ventilation is important or it will scramble your brains!

EDIT: Also, just noticed @BadThad mentioned xylene for removing oils...Thumbs up to that

 

More coin collectors need to know about Xylene and that it's better than Acetone for copper coins.

 

Ok, Insider, I'm new to this and asking a question to learn.

 

So, I should clean them with Xylene then? Thank you.

 

I developed a cleaning process and would welcome some challenge coins. LOL However, I do ask for a photo as you can not obviously REVERSE surface corrosion or sulfide spots. Recently incorporated ultrasonic cleaning into the MIX. The easist way is for GDJMSP to send me five $10 coins. He can then post BEFORE/AFTER photos. Then we can stop this merry-go-round ... <VVBG>.

John Lorenzo
Numismatist
United States

edited

 

Colonialjohn, posted: "I developed a cleaning process and would welcome some challenge coins. LOL However, I do ask for a photo as you can not obviously REVERSE surface corrosion or sulfide spots. Recently incorporated ultrasonic cleaning into the MIX. The easist way is for GDJMSP to send me five $10 coins. He can then post BEFORE/AFTER photos. Then we can stop this merry-go-round …" edited

In the 1980's, I visited a "boiler factory" that was part of a Federal Court case. They were accused of selling over graded coins. They had a room with two ultrasonic machines and EVERY Morgan dollar was dipped using them. That's where I first learned the difference between the pro's and the rest of us.

It should be obvious to anyone that chemicals can reach deeper and quicker into a coin's surface using an ultrasonic bath. They are also neutralized better. A large Branson 4 beaker, heated ultrasonic cleaner was one of the first things we ordered at the first TPGS conservation division. I use a newer model at ICG's conservation servace.

 

i think the resurrection of the famous (or infamous) taco bell on the widow sill coin experiment would add a lot to the conversation.

 

yikes. i am getting old. that should have been taco bell napkin wrapped coin on the window sill experiment. sorry for confusing the reader.

 

I've learned that ketchup, lighter fluid and a scouring pad will make all my silver coins beautiful! (or.... maybe I'll just pay ICG $5 to do it professionally on my submissions, yeah, on second thought I'll save the ketchup for my steak)

 

Thank you. I never been sure of what to do. I've only polished about four because of this. Thanks for the site.