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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;fagaly, post: 767603, member: 22003&quot;]<b>cleaning with acetone</b></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Minor point (maybe not so minor) but someone earlier on a post said about cleaning coins something along the lines of </p><p><i>1) if you don&#039;t know what you&#039;re doing, don&#039;t do it</i></p><p><i>2) if you THINK you know what you&#039;re doing, don&#039;t do it</i>.</p><p><br /></p><p>As far as using acetone in an ultrasonic cleaner, granted that the ones I&#039;ve used in the past had stainless steel basins. So yes, I am in error (and error of omission) on that. Obviously, using an ultrasonic cleaner with a acetone soluble basin is a truly dumb idea and would either get you nominated for a Darwin Award or the subject of a Mythbusters show.</p><p><br /></p><p>As far as using CuO for generic copper oxide, <i>mea culpa</i>. I was trying to give a low level introduction to oxidation. However, I doubt that most people on this forum are that knowledgeable (or even care) about copper (or silver) oxidation states. Besides which, my Inorganic Chemistry texts are in boxes. To do the educational job right would require a lot more time and research than I&#039;m prepared to do at this point.</p><p><br /></p><p>As far as using solvents, like most of life, moderation is the watchword. </p><p><br /></p><p>The reason I occasionally clean coins is to remove surface crud or recent fingerprints. I like my coins to be attractive. I am not a dealer, but a collector who enjoys the beauty of coins. </p><p>A coin that has had a fingerprint on it for many days has started corroding the coin. The purpose (at least for me) of organic solvents is to remove greases, acids, etc. before <i>fresh</i> fingerprints, etc. start doing damage. They are a good way of removing surface crud and an ultrasonic cleaner (again, one with a stainless steel basin) is much more gentle than a cue tip. If you are worried about metal-to-metal contact, put a chemwipe in the basin and just one coin at a time.</p><p><br /></p><p>So yes, I will continue to, occasionally, use various ketones, alcohols, soaps and water to clean my coins. I&#039;ve also used dips to brighten up some really oxidized foreign silver coins (worth only a few dollars) as gifts.</p><p><br /></p><p>And no, I didn&#039;t end up in a hospital (remember those two rules mentioned above).</p><p><br /></p><p>Dr. Bob (for those who remember Rolf in greens on the Muppet Show)</p><p>B.S., Chemistry, Ph.D. experimental physics[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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