About this olive oil for coins

[JMC]

This is all new to me about cleaning coins properly. How long do the coins need to soak in the olive oil and will it damage them?

 

[Beale]

I have read that not just Olive Oil but Unrefined Olive Oil ? Or the Opposite? Is the one to use. Length of time will depend on condition of the coin but other factors. I used to leave my Good Wheat Cents a Month same say more. others less? Beale.

 

[MarkCZ]

I've had coins soaking in olive oil for a forgotten about of time, to do nothing that I could tell but make them oily.

Mark

 

[Wolfdog]

I don't just use it for coins. I have a dog tag from 1941 that I left in there for over a year and it is getting better all the time.I have used it on small knifes that I have dug out of tot lots, (image that) made them better not perfect.I like it only I don't use the cheap stuff, it works some times and some times it don't.

 

[tailofdog]

Not for me
I used a Tumbler

 

[REVIER]

I used it on this rare token and it worked great.
Super crusty, had to tumble it just to get the writing to come out.
I didn't want to ruin it so I threw it in olive oil, (regular), for weeks at a time and every so often pull it out and pick at the remaining crud with a toothpick.
You must have patience, but it works on more than just coins if wait long enough.

 

[Jerry Ga.]

The old timers clued me in on the olive oil deal many years ago. But honestly I have never seen any real results as far as cleaning coins and/or relics.

I believe if there is any results to be had it would be more of a preservative effect on metals.

 

[garrybk]

Hi
Ive only been metal detecting for couple years. The first time I saw reference to soaking coins in olive oil I was surprised. I've been buying crusty roman coins for years from metal detectorists in europe. Its a fun hobby, you buy crusty bronze coins and then clean them. Then I have lots of reference books to help attribute the coin. People who clean coins either soak them in distilled water or use electrolysis. Distilled water works because it has no minerals in it. Water wants minerals so it absorbs them from the crust on your coin. Soaking takes weeks -months. There are a few people who soak in olive oil. But I've. Never had any success.
Garry

 

[MarkCZ]

Not for me
I used a Tumbler

Well, I don't think that tumbling is a good idea with very old coins that are really crusty and if you trying to save the date and as much detail as you can, now if its just clad or just newer coins then it doesn't matter. I have one that I've found that I believe may be a two cent piece, its badly corroded and its getting pretty thin. At present I can't make any details out at all, so I'm trying to get it to where I can at lest identify it as a certain type of coin, even if I can't make out the date. It's weight is wrong for a regular penny, its diameter is just a tiny bit larger than a regular penny, but its so badly damaged I haven't been able to get any markings to show and I may not. But, I'll keep it soaking and maybe something will show up. I've never found a two cent piece, nor has my brothers so it would be pretty neat to be the only one in the family to have found one. Very rare, very worn, very old coins just don't get tossed in a tumbler.
Thinking about my crusty coin, its been a couple of weeks sense I last checked in on it, maybe I'll take a look at it and see if something has showed up.

Mark

 

[charlie dert]

I have had a pile of crusty wheats and indians in extra virgin olive oil for over three years..when I take one out to clean it the crud comes off easy and the coins look great..the longer they soak the easier it is to clean them..just have to be patient..

 

[JMC]

-- moved topic --

 

[jerseyjim]

If I had a very old coin that I thought might be worth something, I would not soak it in anything. Take it to a expert.Oil discolors copper. I use a tumbler to clean the clad ones. Soap and water will clean most silver. If I have to clean copper, I like the peroxide method, heat the peroxide in a micro wave in a small plastic cup until it starts to boil then take it out and put the pennies in the peroxide. I also use the methods garrybk mentioned.Good luck.

 

[ironsight]

I have had a pile of crusty wheats and indians in extra virgin olive oil for over three years..when I take one out to clean it the crud comes off easy and the coins look great..the longer they soak the easier it is to clean them..just have to be patient..

Tried the olive oil thing, been there done that and dismissed that.
Add me to the list of those who said it doesn't work.

Too impatient to wait THREE YEARS!

 

[charlie dert]

well..I am in no hurry so the longer they are in the oil the easier they are to clean and they come out nice...after two years they are easy to clean,.. but like I said..I am in no hurry..gives me something to do on a winters evening..I have an electrolysis setup and it works good but the coppers come out too shiny and unnatural and then need a darkening agent. I have tried the hot peroxide and it works ok but they come out too dark for my liking..I have seen coppers cleaned by a coin dealer that used a "secret" carburetor cleaner (here's a hint for anyone who wants to experiment) and then a darkening agent that looked awesome when he was done..15-20 minutes for the whole process. Funny thing about cleaned coins..If you and I do it they call them "damaged" or "cleaned"..but if you send them to a coin grading service that offers the same thing and pay their fee they will call them "restored"..

 

[jerseyjim]

The only thing that I have noticed is that it changes the color, of copper especially.If the coins are good ones, I won't do anything but soap and water.Clad go into the tumbler.