Cleaning Copper Coins????:nerd:

[Derrelld]

I was wondering if anyone had any tips on a way to clean the large cent I just found???? I have only ran hot water over the coin!! any tips will be great!!!
Thanks
Derrell

 

[digitrich]

look up Don in south jersey post's on the subject...posted last late winter, early spring.

 

[dont know nutin]

Check out this link on cleaning coins Cleaning coins

 

[jabbo]

If all else fails to get the thick hard crust off, hit it with a propane torch for about 10 seconds. The crust burns off right down to the metal but all the pits will now be visible. The coin will still be ugly but the details can be seen.

 

[GA_Digger]

You might want to try electrolysis to get the crude off. This usually works for me. The large copper masonic cent I found in the backyard was so coated from the rich black soil (former chicken pen) that it was almost unreadable. After about 30 minutes the crud came off. Then I soaked the coin in olive oil for about a day.

Good luck.

 

[Frase44NY]

Derrelld, look for 'Rick(ND)' in the forum. His finds look unreal after he cleans them. You always risk damage cleaning them, But unless its real valuable,I would rather be able to see the coins detail. Especially that Large cent you just found.!! He goes out of his way to help you also. Class A guy. Look him up , he's always here on our forum..Good luck bud..

 

[jeff & Maria]

You're lucky your ground conditions aren't as harsh to them as our NJ clay soil.

 

[Justdigit]

No pitting and I've held it in my hand, the ground was VERY nice to this coin!!

 

[shadowman]

I have had pretty good success cleaning some Indian Heads by putting them in olive oil and then heating the oil with a propane torch you just have to be careful you don't catch the oil on fire. It really softens the crud.

 

[drkp88]

Derrell, I would leave that coin "as is" - it's beautiful! If you mess with it, it's gonna look like crap. I love that age patina - gives it character.
If they don't have heavy crud I just buff them on a flat surface with a soft cloth or gym sock to bring out the features. Sometimes if you try to clean them too hard you could loose some of the features.

Bruce in Ct

 

[dewcon4414]

looks pretty clean... but try Bar Keeper Friend and a tooth brush it does a pretty good job of just bringing out the detail. Heat like you get from electralicis or torch sometimes causes the large cents to turn red.

 

[Derrelld]

Thanks every one! i think i may just leave it alone,,, it shows pretty good detail,,, some thing will get worse over time,,,, i guess i am more interested in how to preserve it!!!!!
Will just soaking it in olive oil work?????
Thanks
Derrell

 

[utahshovelhead]

I use the olive Oil as it will not harm the coin but preservs it and gives the patina a richer depth. It looks fantastic to me as there are not many of those around where I hunt and I wouldnt dare clean it. Hey Derrelld? I am curious what loop you use? I totaly enjoy your finds you post and it sounds like you hunt in a trashy mess. Just wondering.

 

[copperking]

I've used olive oil to clean crud off similiar coins. Leave the coin in the olive oil for a day or two. Don't rub or abraid.Good Luck.

 

[Arrowtosser]

I found a large pile of big coppers while in England years ago. I had the nice ones in one box and those that looked smooth and were totally unreadable in another. One day a couple years ago, I tried a trick and it worked awesome. I turned corroded grungy discs in to some really cool coins. I have a tumbler and I put a couple handfuls of fish tank gravel in. Cover the gravel with water, add a good squirt of lemon dish soap. ( I use quality dish soap), add a squirt of lemon juice like "real lemon." dump in your coins and let them tumble for a couple hours. It works perfect. I can dig some out and post pics if someone wants to see. I am sure it prolly hurts value but I have numerous 1800's coins now that before I did this were just ugly discs. This coin Jeff and maria posted would be a good candidate for what
I do as I would never sell this coin if I found it. I do this treatment with all my clad too and it works great. Don't mix pennies with other coins or you will end up with red dimes and nickles. I do the "silver" colored clad in one batch and the pennies in another. Works great!

 

[mattockman]

Post pics please....

 

[Derrelld]

Thanks everyone,,, I am just going to soak it in extra virgin olive oil for a couple days to preserve it!!! And that is a good idea on the clad.. I stick mine in the paint shaker lol

Thanks
Derrell

 

[C&RHunter]

I too like to "see" what a coin looks like, other than a green looking slug. SO, on coins that don't usually fall into the valuable category, I use a toothbrush and a FINE bristle brass brush. This works really well. I use this on brass or copper items as well as nickels. But as you brush, keep checking the detail on the object. Often times when the "green corrosion or patina" comes off, so does the detail that was underneath. (for all practical purposes the small detail has been displaced by corrosion) That is probably not chemically correct, but best way for me to relate it. I have found 2 large cents in the last few years. Neither of them had a readable date, even though other detail was so-so. your coin looks like it will clean up very nice. Good luck with however you decide to clean the coin!