Hunted a trashy old homesite today...

[Mark in NC]

according to the old feller that lives next door, the house is at least 140 years old. It's pretty clear around 3/4's of the house but there's old rusted tin in the ground everywhere! Had a hard time finding a place to GB the 3D. I did manage to nab a nice V nickel though. Enhanced mode id'd it as 5 cent, high tone just like it supposed to. No date yet on it but it's soaking. Any ideas on cleaning cruddy old nickels so you can see a date without damaging them?..

HH'n

Mark in NC

 

[Mike (Virginia Beach)]

I've had very little luck in getting V nickels cleaned up. The best thing you can do with them as far as I can see is to use a soft brush or toothpick to clean them off a little and leave them pretty much the way I found them. I tried electrolysis on one and toasted it. That works wonders on silver stuff but not V's or Large Cents. What are you soaking it in?

 

[Mark in NC]

olive oil. I use it on copper coins I find, but never tried it on a nickel. All the older nickels I find are usually in really rough shape. I was just hoping someone had a good method I could try out. The outer layer or patina is pretty flakey, exposing the reddish color underneath. Scrubbing it will ruin it for sure.... mainly just want to get a date for my personal satisfaction.

HH'n

Mark in NC

 

[WVAdirtdigger]

and scrub them with a toothbrush every day or so. Nickels never too clean up well but this is the best way I've found. I also bought a product called Nic-a-date. After 3 days of lemon juice, I put this stuff on it and it takes the rest of the pink stuff off. You still have a pitted silver looking nickel but it may show the date. You can find Nic-a-date at some of the coins websites. Just google it.

 

[Mark in NC]

n/t