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Cleaning Coins
- Thread starter stateguyt
- Start date
NamVetLesTreasureSeeker
New member
FOR COPPER COINS: One of my hunting partners recommended a method to me early this yr., and I've had some Great SUCCESS with it!! But, you have to be
VERY P-A-T-I-E-N-T!! Use PEROXIDE in a glass jar, DO NOT HEAT UP THE PEROXIDE!! Just plain PEROXIDE, and change it after a couple of days with FRESH
PEROXIDE, but it can take several months!! I had GREAT SUCCESS with a 1845 Large Cent in FANTASTIC SHAPE!! Best of luck, hh, Les Robinson
VERY P-A-T-I-E-N-T!! Use PEROXIDE in a glass jar, DO NOT HEAT UP THE PEROXIDE!! Just plain PEROXIDE, and change it after a couple of days with FRESH
PEROXIDE, but it can take several months!! I had GREAT SUCCESS with a 1845 Large Cent in FANTASTIC SHAPE!! Best of luck, hh, Les Robinson
Steve from Ohio
New member
I agree with the peroxide for copper coins. If you can get 20% or 30% peroxide instead of the 2 or 3% available from drug stores, you can cut down the time down to just a day. The higher content peroxide is available from chemical supply houses. It is on a government watch list because it is an oxidizer and can be used for other nefarious purposes.
For silver, I was given this information from a coin restorer. He said to first clean off all dirt with just dish soap and water. Allow to sit for an hour or two in the soapy water. Do not rub the coins no matter what. Rubbing will scratch the coin. Rinse in clean water. Dab the coin dry with a very soft cloth.....not paper towel because the paper towel will scratch the surface.
He then said to take a teaspoon of salt and two tablespoons of baking soda and put it in a small pan of water. Take a piece of aluminum foil and make a sling and place the coin in the sling. Then heat the water / salt / baking soda till it starts to bubble. Place the aluminum foil with the coin in it in the boiling water. Allow to boil for at least 10 minutes. Repeat until the coin is bright silver in color. Then clean off with just water....do not rub.....and then place the silver coin in some lemon juice for about an hour.
I was told that the lemon juice will put a protective coating on the silver and prevent it from tarnishing. I twill not destroy the value of the coin and will allow the grain of the silver to pop out.
A silver coin tarnishes or turns black from the sulfur that attaches to the silver from the air. The aluminum foil will absorb that sulfur and you will see it on the foil.
I have used this with several old coins I found and it really cleans them up nice.
For silver, I was given this information from a coin restorer. He said to first clean off all dirt with just dish soap and water. Allow to sit for an hour or two in the soapy water. Do not rub the coins no matter what. Rubbing will scratch the coin. Rinse in clean water. Dab the coin dry with a very soft cloth.....not paper towel because the paper towel will scratch the surface.
He then said to take a teaspoon of salt and two tablespoons of baking soda and put it in a small pan of water. Take a piece of aluminum foil and make a sling and place the coin in the sling. Then heat the water / salt / baking soda till it starts to bubble. Place the aluminum foil with the coin in it in the boiling water. Allow to boil for at least 10 minutes. Repeat until the coin is bright silver in color. Then clean off with just water....do not rub.....and then place the silver coin in some lemon juice for about an hour.
I was told that the lemon juice will put a protective coating on the silver and prevent it from tarnishing. I twill not destroy the value of the coin and will allow the grain of the silver to pop out.
A silver coin tarnishes or turns black from the sulfur that attaches to the silver from the air. The aluminum foil will absorb that sulfur and you will see it on the foil.
I have used this with several old coins I found and it really cleans them up nice.
I use the Band name "Real Lemon Juice" I get at Sam's club for about $5 for 2 of the 1 1/2 quart bottles, so I have 3 quarts for $5.
I just cleaned up JamesND clad for the year and will post some pictures soon as how they look and what i did. There was $211.39 in clad that went to the bank.
I just cleaned up JamesND clad for the year and will post some pictures soon as how they look and what i did. There was $211.39 in clad that went to the bank.
NamVetLesTreasureSeeker
New member
Crash, I can't say for sure, I use the standard bottle of PEROXIDE!! I don't know what the solution mix ratio is!!
Steve....Were you talking about Tarnished Silver Coins ? Or just dirty silver in general when you mentioned a method...Quote....."take a teaspoon of salt and two tablespoons of baking soda and put it in a small pan of water. Take a piece of aluminum foil and make a sling and place the coin in the sling. Then heat the water / salt / baking soda till it starts to bubble. Place the aluminum foil with the coin in it in the boiling water. Allow to boil for at least 10 minutes. Repeat until the coin is bright silver in color. "................Is there any way you could post a pic...or better yet a video of that .....I am having trouble picturing 'slinging a silver---in aluminum foil.....and trying to drop it in to boiling water.................Can you help.....
Thank You for any Help
Thank You for any Help