I murdered some coins :( HELP!

Soaking coins in vinegar, is totally fine. Usually nothing happens to the coin but adding salt was my mistake. I heard that adding salt to the coins would help it (which it did) but something happened. I think I may have forgotten to check on the coins so when I came home the next day lookie what I found. BLACK DOTS ON THE COINS . I tried washing and rubbing them off but their stuck! I think it is salt that is sticking onto the coins. Some coins even turned rainbow colored (not toned, just the metal) can someone help me get rid of these dots?

 

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From what I can tell you what you need to use to get off those dots is to use a stronger acid or base but, that may cause the coin to look a lot more worn down. Usually what I use is baking soda water. Well let's see what everyone else has to say.

 

Who told you this little tidbit of brilliance? While it may have specific uses, such a blanket statement does not help anyone wishing to learn what not to do with their coins. With that said, if you want to experiment, that's fine but don't do it with coins that matter to you, and the simple fact that you seem bothered by this tells me your first (and biggest) mistake.

 

I feel for you. Ouch. I have no idea except for maybe nicadate applied with a qtip gently. Can't hurt em much more I suppose.

 

There was a thread, not that long ago, about this. Why salt? Salt = Rust.

 

I don't he was told and warned before. Hopefully he will learn his lesson but I doubt it.

 

I did this because I've done vinegar by itself with dateless buffalo nickels. It works. I said it was the salt I added that ruined it.

 

What do you mean? When was I warned, I was actually told to do this by a number of people to complete an acid date set.

 

No kidding.

Yes, but you also said this (below) which is absolute nonsense. There is a great difference between being specific ("dateless nickels") and simply saying "coins".

Again...no, it's not.

 

Ok. I'm sorry for not being specific and sounding stupid. But do u have any tips? Your really helping me

 

I think he was asking for help

 

Thank you

 

Typicalcreepah, booksb4coins has never made a mistake, especially when he was your age. Talking down to people is the norm.

 

Ok, ok I'm sorry. I'm just asking for some tips ._.

 

Pick one coin and give it a bath in just vinegar. Can't hurt at this point.

 

First off if you don't know, you don't know. There is no such thing as a stupid question. And on the internet, there are a lot of LITOM's (Legends in their own minds) you will have to understand that some people never change and are the same way they have been in grade school and beyond.

Most of what is described on a lot of coin and metal detecting sites and are borrowed from jewelry and metal artist sites. The people don't understand the process either the ones borrowing it or even some that are posting it.

Contrary to the young lady's idea on that TV commercial, that you can't put anything on the internet that isn't true! There is a lot of deep do do!

Since they general agreement is, buy the book before the coin!
here are a couple of the ones that are available:






Both are available from assorted coin shop/dealers on the net. A word on the the used books sites and Amazon. Some of the sellers are not from this planet with the cost of these and other books for this hobby and token collecting. They think that the if the book is out of print it is worth a fortune. Search and don't buy the first one on the secondary market you see.
Here is a search engine that searches over 25 book sales sites: AddALL Used and Out of Print book search it will let you compare the offerings world wide. they also have a new book site
AddALL book search and price comparison
Now some facts on the vinegar, salt, lemon juice, ammonia solutions. Are long time mixtures that have been used to change the surface coloring of metal objects. Here is Websters a superficial covering or exterior, a usually green film formed naturally on copper and bronze by long exposure or artificially (as by acids) and often valued aesthetically for its color.
General in the metal arts, To clean the surface you use diluted acid or degreaser followed by a rinse then a rinse with acetone to remove all traces of water/moisture.

Then you apply the patina solution.

Vinegar is Know as ACETIC ACID, it can and does remove zinc and other plating from metal


any of the acids whether natural or man made will etch the surface of the metal it comes in contact with.

If you are going to use it on any metallic material use it only by itself and keep an eye on the progress by removing the items and checking the progress.

You have to remember that length of time, temperature of the solution, strength of the solution, and the air temperature will effect the process.

When you start mixing the materials you will add more variables in. Ferrous type materials will rust with the addition of salt(sodium chloride or its variations), Now when used with copper, brass silver it will also cause surface coloration's.

Being new to coin collecting but 40 plus years into metal art and fabrication. There is a lot of B.S. out here on the net. In both the areas of the hobbies.

The same being with the constant mention of rock polishers to clean stuff either from metal detecting, or coins. They keep saying the can type rolling tumbler polisher mostly because it they are cheaper than the vibratory type. that uses a wider variety of cleaning media from saw dust (wet or dry) to corn cob, walnut shells and plastic, wood, grits, through stainless steel metal shot with detergent cleansers.

I'm not suggesting that anybody do it, but the vibratory tumblers are easier to use, and easier to check on contents. Same kind that is used to clean brass shell casing for reloading.

No matter what method and materials you may choose in the future, always remember to try it out on some items that you can't damage if it goes wrong! And don't fall for the organic B.S. line that "if its organic it can't hurt you or do damage!" Citrus oil cleaners are touted as a wonderful, safe cleaner. Yeah right then why it it a registered pesticide with the EPA. turpentine cause more health problems that any of the other solvents.

Be safe use the proper safety equipment for want you are using.

And by all means keep asking questions, it is the one of the best ways of learning and getting info.

As to my bonifidey's, I have a large collection of metalworking, jewelry, metal arts and patina books. And have been doing it for over 40 years, yet I don't consider myself an expert. Just a very well informed hobbyist!

 

I was be sarcastic and trying to say he was rude to you.

 

Haha I know

 

Wow, those are some gnarly looking indians! Try any suggestions on one coin at a time till you find something that works. Looks like you have redeposits of something on the surface, whether you have dammaged the surface remains to be seen. Things that occur to me to try: 1) water 2) olive oil 3) vinegar 4) sudsy ammonia. Don't think organics will do you any good on this one. Good Luck