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Message:: [QUOTE="Jaelus, post: 8646896, member: 46237"]It's complicated. I have given presentations in person on the history of coin conservation and the general techniques involved and why they work, but I've only taught a few people how to do this in detail. It takes a long time to develop a working knowledge of conservation because every coin is unique. It's one of those things you have to figure out for yourself. As [USER=24314]@Insider[/USER] alluded to, it's really a somewhat secretive side to the hobby. I will say, the thing people tend to get wrong is to come away thinking there's one specific process they should use with every coin, and that's just not the case. There are various chemicals you can buy and various techniques you can use with them, but there are also many different coining metals, finishes, and surface conditions. Ultimately, knowing what will work on a given coin and in what order just comes with experience. And as I said above, even more important is knowing which coins are good candidates for conservation and which coins should be left alone.[/QUOTE]