COIN CLEANING

[johnnynelson]

Over the past few years, several amateur MD'ER'S have asked me, What's the best way to clean coin's? There are several method's, listed below are a few of the easiest.

1. Any coin found, that appears to be old in age, and un =sure of it's alloy, brush with a soft bristle brush (Toothbrush)
under running water only, and wipe dry.

NOTE: In the method's that follow, in cleaning, DO-NOT mix coins of different alloys together

2. Put coin's in a container, with concentrated Lemon juice, and shake the container periodically. Rinse coin's well, and wipe dry. (I use a medium size prescription bottle).

3. Put coin's in a container, with white vinegar and salt, shake the container periodically. Rinse the coin's, and wipe dry.For every 1 ounce of vinegar, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt.

HARBOR FREIGHT: Does sell 2 types of tumblers, a single and double drum. They also sell pin pointers for around $15.00.

4. Put coin's in the drum, add CLR (which can be purchased at most super markets) fill the drum with the CLR, only enough to cover the coin's. Add, a handful of aquarium gravel, and turn drum in the tumbler. Rinse coin's and wipe dry.
CAUTION: Be sure to read safety instruction's on the CLR. Be sure to wash hand's.
NOTE: Aquarium gravel is coarse, I recommend putting a handful in a rag, and hitting with a hammer, to make a finer grit.
At times, I use bird gravel, which can be purchased at pet stores.

GETTING COIN(S) APPRAISED:

Although a very large percentage of coin dealer's are honest, if for any reason's you feel dishonesty, never let the coin(s), out of your sight. I also, recommend purchasing a coin value book.

IF ANY OTHERS HAVE ANY CLEANING SUGGESTION'S, OR ANY INFORMATION IN HELPING THE AMATEUR'S, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD.

HAPPY MD'ING TO ALL, AND GOOD LUCK

 

[doc-jim]

[size=medium]Cleaning my darkened clad coins: When I have enough Clad coins to make it worthwhile (sometimes 1 days worth, sometimes more) I just fill my my rock tumbler 1/3 with aquarium gravel, fill 2/3's with water & add a little dish soap. I run it about 3 hrs then rinse & inspect. As long as I can tell a dime is a dime at a glance I am done.. If some are still too dark I run them in the next batch. It's cheaper than CLR & safer too! It works well enough while not getting too complicated or costly.
I don't clean them but so seperate Copper ( Pre 1982 ) from Zinc pennies ( 83 to present ). BTW; 147 copper pennies make a pound & copper is over $3 a pound now so it is worth sorting your pennies... 1982 pennies may be either but the copper ones weigh a bit more.
I NEVER clean early dates or silver coins until I know what I might be destroying... DOC[/size]

 

[mwaynebennett]

doc-jim:

scrapping US pennies for their metal value is a federal offense and will put a person in the Graybar Hotel.

Mark
Elite 2200
WA St.

 

[doc-jim]

[size=medium]Mark, Please note, I did not say I sold them as scrap.. I was just pointing out that face value & market value are not always even close. Since changing to a cheaper alternative will alter the value of the original it is worth noting. Obviously collectors will take this into consideration thus increasing future value of them.
I suggested saving the original copper pennies but only for investment potential & did not mean to suggest that anyone sell them for scrap metal, But to let them go for just 1 cent as pocket change would be your loss when their future (& likley current "TRADE") value is higher than that.
I hoped by apprising everyone they could also gain from this Like we did by keeping Silver coins after 1965 when they were replaced by current "sandwich" coins. Those coins are now worth 10 to 20 times face value! I cannot imagine you would use a 1960 dime to pay for a 10 cent item at the store today, Would You?? DOC [/size]

 

[mwaynebennett]

I believe it is legal to sell pre-1965 silver US coins for scrap. Just recently a law came into being I believe that makes it a crime to melt US pennies.

On a side note, since the zinc pennies rot away in just a few years, I'm thinking that archaeologists in the future will be urinated at the lack of pennies to be found in ruins.

 

[TABAGO]

Hi doc-jim ,

I clean my coins the same way with a tumbler, But I use liquid laundry (Tide My preference), I found it Cleans Better Than Dish soap And don't foam as much it is low foaming.

I found that the liquid dish soap foams to much, an the foam turns black from the coins , if left to long the coins do come clean but have blackish color to them,, try the laundry soap
And I thank you will like it much better

 

[TABAGO]

Ok,,,,, One more note on the tumbler,, The barrel's on the tumbler, are made of rubber type material, I cut a plactic coffee, container to the size of the inside dimanter, of the tumbler, to use as a liner
and from the coffee lids I cut two ends for the tumbler, the coins come out better with out the black tenting

 

[marcomo]

Doc makes an excellent point about the copper pennies. If your floors are strong enough, start filling those buckets!

They did make it illegal to melt them because the gov't already struggles to keep enough pennies in circulation and it costs more than a penny to make a penny, even though it's only zinc.

But when the gov't quits making pennies, which is inevitable, the law against melting them will no doubt be lifted at some point thereafter.