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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Ben_Bovas, post: 3130, member: 476&quot;]I&#039;m sorry. What you have done to your coins is most likely irreversible. Acids, such as hydrochloric and sulphuric, will etch (dissolve) the surfaces of all but the most inert metals, such as highly pure gold and platinum. How quickly this happens depends on the strength of the acid, which may be indicated on the label of the acid container, if it is a commercial product.</p><p><br /></p><p>Once the surface is etched, nothing can be done to restore the original appearance. The surface has been altered. Metal has been removed and cannot be replaced. To prevent further damage the coins should be rinsed thoroughly in clean or distilled water. If you like, to neutralize any acid remaining in microscopic pores (a result of the etching,) you can rinse the coins in a solution of baking soda dissolved in clean or distilled water. Following the baking soda bath the coins should be rinsed in clean or distilled water.</p><p><br /></p><p>DON&#039;T USE ACIDS to clean your coins if you value them for standard numismatic reasons.</p><p><br /></p><p>You can learn from this mis-adventure. If you want to see the results of the etching I suggest that you find a microscope somewhere (a school, college, local consulting scientist, doctor or pharmacist.) Under appropriate magnification and lighting a different kind of beauty may be revealed to you. You may be able to see the previously unseeable crystal structures of the coin surface. Metallurgists and engineers regularly use acid etching to see the underlying crystal structure of polished metal samples.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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