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Best way to clean old coins
- Thread starter dk dogs
- Start date
I like to use backing powder. Step-by-step:
1. Put coin with water in a container/jar what ever
2. Put in some backing powder in jar/container with the coin in
3. Let is sit until the water changes color then take it out and rinse under running water to remover backing powder on the coin if there is any, when that is gone gently rub it with your finger.
Do those steps over and over again until it looks fairly good, this might require some practice but it works good for me.
Simple, cheap, easy, not to agressive...What more could you ask for?
1. Put coin with water in a container/jar what ever
2. Put in some backing powder in jar/container with the coin in
3. Let is sit until the water changes color then take it out and rinse under running water to remover backing powder on the coin if there is any, when that is gone gently rub it with your finger.
Do those steps over and over again until it looks fairly good, this might require some practice but it works good for me.
Simple, cheap, easy, not to agressive...What more could you ask for?
GRAY GHOST
New member
hello again, dk. if you think a coin is very old or valuable, don't clean it with anything but an old toothbrush and water! the redbook, a guide of u.s. coins, is available at most coin shops and bookstores. it will do you well to get yourself a copy. more time and experience in this hobby will enable you to make good decisions in this regard.
clad coinage [1965 and after] is cleaned in tumblers with different detergents and medias. most just rinse it off and put it back in circulation. in fact, i usually leave clad coinage in the ground for someone else to find 50 years from now. i don't need it.
cleaning old coins and not being able to tell the difference is an art mastered by few. a botched cleanup job on an old and rare piece can seriously impair the value. cleaning an old coin is the easiest thing to do; restoring the appearance of natural toning is difficult at best, and again, practiced and mastered by very few. but... it can and is done.
knowing that you are new to this hobby, time and experience will teach you a lot. you've asked a very good question, and you've received some good answers. again, if you think you've found an old and/or rare coin, do the future generations and yourself a big favor... and take it easy on the coin.
i hope it helps, and hh,
clad coinage [1965 and after] is cleaned in tumblers with different detergents and medias. most just rinse it off and put it back in circulation. in fact, i usually leave clad coinage in the ground for someone else to find 50 years from now. i don't need it.
cleaning old coins and not being able to tell the difference is an art mastered by few. a botched cleanup job on an old and rare piece can seriously impair the value. cleaning an old coin is the easiest thing to do; restoring the appearance of natural toning is difficult at best, and again, practiced and mastered by very few. but... it can and is done.
knowing that you are new to this hobby, time and experience will teach you a lot. you've asked a very good question, and you've received some good answers. again, if you think you've found an old and/or rare coin, do the future generations and yourself a big favor... and take it easy on the coin.
i hope it helps, and hh,
montanagold
New member
Don't buy from Harbor Freight. It will take like a year to get. the last two things I bought from them (one being a tumbler) took 8 weeks and the belt broke on it the first day. spend the money and buy a Lortone. It will be used allot as a metal detectorist.
GRAY GHOST said:. more time and experience in this hobby will enable you to make good decisions in this regard.
clad coinage [1965 and after] is cleaned in tumblers with different detergents and medias. most just rinse it off and put it back in circulation. in fact, i usually leave clad coinage in the ground for someone else to find 50 years from now. i don't need it.
Clad coinage won't last 50 years in the ground. I don't need it but take it anyway that's what coinshooting is about. Dan
Do not clean old coins until you have ascertained their inherent value.
This applies universally to gold and silver coins, not as much for coppers. Copper coins usually are pretty grungy when dug, and their value is severely diminished.
If you have a rare coin - an' I mean big bucks rare - let a pro handle it. Send it to PCGS and let them do their thing... they will grade it, clean it for a fee, register and encapsulate the coin in a tamper proof plastic "slab." It costs you to do this, but it increases the value of the coin substantially if you do.
If you just want to piddle with cleaning because you have little else to do, use electrolysis to remove encrusted gunk - it is the least invasive method. It is especially useful on those grungy coppers. For most non-rare silver coins, I just wash them in a little mild soap with a soft toothbrush.
Most newbs want to get all happy with cleaning, but I urge you to resist that impulse. Just clean off the gross dirt and put your coins safely away.
For common clad and coppers, I tumble them, too. Get a small rock tumbler, as recommended.
I got mine used on ebay for under $10. You dont need anything fancier.
- Fill the tumbler canister 1/3- 1/2 half full of aquarium gravel, add a shot of household cleanser and coins until it is about 3/4 full, then just barely cover this "slurry" with water.
(Do not overfill - the contents must be free to roll, and well... tumble!)
- Once loaded (the canister - not you
), seal the tumble canister, turn on the tumbler and go detecting for 6-10 hours. Keep your tumbler in a large plastic catch pan as it runs, in case you got something goofed up and it pops open. Don't ask how I learned this!
- Never mix clad/composite fractionals (nickles, dimes, quarters, halves, SBA or SAC dollars) with cents or other coppers. The coppers will turn the fractionals a nice orangey-coppery color.
This applies universally to gold and silver coins, not as much for coppers. Copper coins usually are pretty grungy when dug, and their value is severely diminished.
If you have a rare coin - an' I mean big bucks rare - let a pro handle it. Send it to PCGS and let them do their thing... they will grade it, clean it for a fee, register and encapsulate the coin in a tamper proof plastic "slab." It costs you to do this, but it increases the value of the coin substantially if you do.
If you just want to piddle with cleaning because you have little else to do, use electrolysis to remove encrusted gunk - it is the least invasive method. It is especially useful on those grungy coppers. For most non-rare silver coins, I just wash them in a little mild soap with a soft toothbrush.
Most newbs want to get all happy with cleaning, but I urge you to resist that impulse. Just clean off the gross dirt and put your coins safely away.
For common clad and coppers, I tumble them, too. Get a small rock tumbler, as recommended.
I got mine used on ebay for under $10. You dont need anything fancier.
- Fill the tumbler canister 1/3- 1/2 half full of aquarium gravel, add a shot of household cleanser and coins until it is about 3/4 full, then just barely cover this "slurry" with water.
(Do not overfill - the contents must be free to roll, and well... tumble!)
- Once loaded (the canister - not you
), seal the tumble canister, turn on the tumbler and go detecting for 6-10 hours. Keep your tumbler in a large plastic catch pan as it runs, in case you got something goofed up and it pops open. Don't ask how I learned this! - Never mix clad/composite fractionals (nickles, dimes, quarters, halves, SBA or SAC dollars) with cents or other coppers. The coppers will turn the fractionals a nice orangey-coppery color.