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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;houston_ray, post: 33562, member: 1943&quot;]All good conversation going on this thread!&nbsp; Please note the different opinions and reasoning behind those opinions.&nbsp; That&#039;s what makes this hobby so much fun.</p><p><br /></p><p>As I am a product of the scientific community, I have to agree with some of the comments made above.&nbsp; However, taken to an extreme, AIR chemically reacts with the copper in a penny, just like olive oil.&nbsp;&nbsp; The air in my hometown of Houston is lot different than the air in Denver, and therefore over time will tend to affect coins differently.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Intensity and duration is a key for any chemical reaction.&nbsp; I&#039;m in the camp where soaking a coin in olive oil for a few hours won&#039;t hurt a thing.&nbsp; I&#039;ve seen it improve a number of coins, some dramatically.&nbsp; Never seen a downside.&nbsp; Unless you try to &quot;rub up&quot; the coin, or grind on it with a stiff toothbrush.</p><p><br /></p><p>That being said, olive oil is not used to clean the coin, but really to clean &quot;off&quot; caked dirt or stuff stuck in the numerals and letters.&nbsp; It will even help remove and retard early stage or superficial corrosion (verdigris).&nbsp; Old-timers have known this for years on copper coins.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>In no way should olive oil be used as a polishing agent.&nbsp; Furthermore, an oil residue appears to remain (even after the coins is washed off) and tends to preserve the finish of a coin.&nbsp; Maybe a bit of an air-block.&nbsp; It&#039;s better than silicon, which I consider more of a &quot;chemical agent.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>A toothbrush is generally ok for circulated coins (as noted earlier, NOT AU or better coins) if its got soft bristles and used gently versus trying to scour the coin.</p><p><br /></p><p>Recommend taking an old penny that&#039;s only worth a penny and practicing.&nbsp; There should be no change in the color of the coin; after a day or so drying out, some coins will have a better appearance.</p><p><br /></p><p>Good luck to all!</p><p><br /></p><p>Houston_Ray[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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