B.H., Metaldig, Bob or ED... need advice...

[James B. in Mass]

I found what I thought was a copper colonial coin this W/E at an old foundation site down towards Cape Cod, but a little soaking reveals that it is actually silver. It appears to have had some sort of reaction to the sandy soil where I found it... similar to the silver coins we find up in salisbury.

Question: I know you are not supposed to clean coins but I would at least like to identify what type of coin it is. What is the best way to get some of the surface crud off so I can make out what it is without damaging it further?

The coin is a little smaller than a Half Dollar and about 1/2 as thick. Any ideas would be greatly appretiated.

 

[Boston Bob]

James i soak silver in sopy water a few days. Also don't be scared to get regular toothpaste and rub gentley till clean . the coin over the years will tone up like you never touched it.

 

[ED-NH]

James, that copper that I just posted today on the minelab forum was cleaned in hydrogen peroxide. I took a small amount in a tiny bowl and boiled it in the microwave for about 20 seconds then dropped the coin in. It works well for copper as it won't eat the coin. I could not even see any date on it before I did that. I used a soft tooth brush on it running under water after I let it soak in the peroxide for a few minutes. Good luck and let us know what you find out.

 

[James B. in Mass]

The silver has reacted with something in the sandy soil and it looks like it is covered with tar in spots. I can definitely make out a faint pattern on the "better" side of the coin but I'm afraid if I use toothpaste I might harm it further and never be able to tell what it once was.
Does peroxide work on silver too? If so I might try it tonight.

Nice coin on the Minelab forum Ed..

 

[ED-NH]

I know what you mean about that black stuff. My buddy found a silver dime at the beach that had that black stuff on it and I peeled some of it off with my finger nail. I have only done the peroxide trick on copper

If the coin is worn such that you don't think it is worth a ton of $$$ then these two articles may be good.

I have not had great luck with electrolisys and would not try it on a nice silver piece

http://www.celatorsart.com/clean_silver.html


http://coins.about.com/library/weekly/aa062500a.htm

 

[Scott(NH)]

This is what they do in England with their hammered coins....Just wet a piece of aluminum foil and wrap the coin up in it. It will fizz and stink like rotten eggs for a few minutes, but it should get enough of the black off to reveal the design without damaging the coin. You can do it over and over until you get a result you like - no metal is lost, just tarnish and you won't scratch the surface. Post a pic when you're done

 

[James B. in Mass]

Thanks Scott. Just water and aluminum? Don't you need a catalyst like the peroxide?

I will try to post a pic if I get it cleaned up enough.

 

[Scott(NH)]

There's enough disolved ions in tap water to work. The traditional way is to spit in the tin foil and then wrap the coin. Makes a great field clean.