Extreme copper cleaning

Lots of nonsense going on in this post. When working with numismatic items, NEVER, NEVER, clean them, ESPECIALLY with any method that requires rubbing. If you do, you will significantly reduce the numismatic value. If you must experiment, do it on coins that are only worth face value or are damaged and have little or no numismatic value.

Toning/tarnish occurs when the metal surface of coin reacts with the environment to form oxides, sulfides, and other fun chemical stuff. Abrasive cleaning (rubbing, polishing) removes the tarnish and stains, but it also removes the original surface of the coin. it can leave fine scratches, hairlines, and an unnatural appearance that can be seen for decades and longer. Dips also remove the surface layers but do it through a chemical rather than physical process. (Acetone, xylene, and solvents are a different beast, check the archives for info)

If you have a background in chemistry or metallurgy, and have a lot of experience, you may be able to improve the appearance of a coin. But 99%+ of the cleaning jobs will crash and burn.

BTW: Pure gold doesn't tarnish.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

how about this?
https://www.wizardcoinsupply.com/lindner-metal-dip.html

 

It's a weak acid with thiourea. Gentler than standard dips, I'd expect, but still likely to leave the coin an unnatural color.

 

The only type of cleaning I would ever do to a copper alloy coin is a soak in distilled water just to loosen dirt off the coin. Leaving dirt on a coin can cause the coin to corrode under the dirt.

 

Alright BUT we like'm pretty, so here's my addition to the CLEANED coins; been following the posted suggestions to use ACETONE, so I gave these a good soak .... . What ya think?