cleaning a v nickel

[pettit]

so i got out for a hunt here in iowa last week found a black 1912 v nickel how do i get it cleaned also got out yesterday dug 9 junk nails and 1 nice 10k eastern star ring 5 grams

 

[deputydawg16]

I used cleaning polish like mothers and a dremmel tool with a polishing pad made it look nice depends what you want to do

 

[Canewrap]

Uh, just know you likely destroyed the value of that nickle by polishing it that way. The safest way is to soak it clean, in something like olive oil and get as much off as possible, but if you use any kind of chemical cleaner you'll likely destroy the value. I do know one guy that found out he could use pocket lint from the dryer and some water in a tumbler to clean his wheat pennies.

 

[Calif_quake]

I know some people will probably not agree with this method. I have been using about a 50/50 combination of Heinz vinager and bottled lemon juice. While it isnt perfect it has helped. I don't use a lot just enough to cover the coins. I let it soak for a while ( sometimes as long as 24 hrs or more ) and take a soft clean rag and wipe it clean. It does seem to remove some of the crud. Sometimes I need to put it back in the soaking solution, but generally speaking using this combination of the liquid combined with some elbow grease it does help.

 

[Calif_quake]

I also use some Never-Dull to polish and shine things up. That also helps remove some of the gunk.

http://www.nevrdull.com/

 

[pettit]

-- moved topic --

 

[bootyhoundpa]

i also use never-dull on v-nickles.....it takes a lot of rubbing,but they sure do shine when finished......

 

[Larry (IL)]

Most dug nickles have no collector value due to condition. Sure if you get a 1912-S, handle with care but otherwise clean and enjoy. I use a brass brush to get the gunk off and and if you want it shinny, go for it.

 

[Sailorman]

I know it sounds rough but I've used SOS pads, the kind with soap in them. They come up nice and shiny. I only do this to a nickel, not a silver or copper or a mythical 1912 S!

 

[TerraDigger]

Do be aware that if you remove all of the discoloration you may wind up with a piited looking surface on the nickle. I would try the olive oil soak. May take months to soften up that crud.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

For buffalos and V's, try Naval Jelly. The reason for this is, that the reddish brown appearance our dug-nickels get, is d/t the iron content in the composition of what nickels are made from. The red is the slow rust (hence the red color) coming out, after decades in the ground. Naval jelly is a rust remover.

Naturally it will leave them a little pinkish colored when done. I suppose to get a "final" cleaning on that, you can try some of the other methods mentioned here, for removing the final discoloration.

 

[BarberBill]

I've cleaned a number of ugly nickels by soaking them in Worcestershire sauce. I know it sounds weird, but I read that method on one forum or another and sure enough it works pretty well.
BB

 

[TerraDigger]

Bill, how long does the 'sauce treatment' take? And what color is the nickle after treatment? I may give it a whirl.

 

[MNCoinhunter]

Regular kechup works fairly well. Just enough to cover both sides and let it sit until you get the desired result. 24 hours seems to be plenty of soak time, but I guess that depends on how much crud is on the coin.

 

[Rick N. MI]

It does not do any damage to the coin. Soak it for a few hours or overnight and clean with soap and water. Keep repeating till it's as clean as you can get it. Then put some olive oil or coconut oil on it and after a an hour or so white it off.

My last choice if I can't get the black off I will electrolysis it for a few minutes, clean and put some oil on it and white it off. Use baking soda in the water.

Rick

 

[BarberBill]

TerraDigger - The worcestershire sauce treatment time varies with how cruddy the nickle is. I generally give it 24 hours more or less and if that hasn't pretty well done the trick, I'll put the coin in a fresh batch and leave it overnight and see how it goes. This works quite well on buffalo nickles etc. that come out of the ground looking orange to red quite well also. Most of the nickles I've done this way look pretty normal colorwise, but not particularly shiny.
BB

 

[TerraDigger]

Bill, thanks!