Need help cleaning coins

["Dr.Tones"]

I know that cleaning coins can greatly reduce value... But there really isn't much value to these coins. I've just got a few non key date wheats from a particular site that are encrusted in a very hard concrete like substance. What would be the best way to go about making these babies legible again? Thanks.

 

[GateKeeper]

Take a palstic soda bottle or water bottle and fill it with hot water and some dish soap and add pennies.
Shake it for a minute and drain. Repeat till water is clean. Usually 4 or 5 times. That should do it.

 

[TIM CLARK]

I clean my non key dates wheat in my tuber works really good.

 

["Dr.Tones"]

Tuber?

 

[doc1964]

I think Mr. Clark ment "tumbler".

If the coins are copper pennies, I would go down to Harbor Freight and buy a rock tumbler.
Fill it about 1/5 full of clear aquarium gravel, and then the coins. Add water until it's about 1/3 full.
Nothing gets the crusty cemented gravel and crud off like tumbling.
I also use about a tablespoon of "Magic Tumble Brite" which is a very fine - powder like - grit in mine that makes the tumbled pennies nice and shiney.

HH

 

["Dr.Tones"]

Cool, thanks for the advice! So that being said... How would I go about cleaning a key date or other precious coins?

 

[BootyHunter]

If I find an old wheat or an Indian and I don't want to tumble and risk dulling the detail I put some peroxide in a plastic container, microwave it until it boils (about 1 and 1/2 to 2 minutes) then drop in the coin and let it go until it quits fizzing. If need be I repeat the process until the coin is clean.

 

["Dr.Tones"]

Well I'll be darned. I'll have to try it

 

[mtwolf2270]

I tumble new wheats old ones or ih pennies I use the peroxide method followed by a stiff toothbrush or soft brass brush and lightly clean them between peroxide baths this keeps them green and old looking after I have them cleaned I coat with olive oil or light gun oil to slow the oxidation process. I use the tumbler on all clad to turn into the bank. Nickels do best in the tumbler with baking soda and dawn or bar keepers friend and dish soap. Silvers I almost never do anything other then water however I have had very oxidizied silver which is black and ugly. For these I use an an electrolysis setup or baking soda mix to a paste coat the coin wrap in foil over night and rise with soap and water. Simple green soaking works on black nasty silver items. Rusty relics, brass and coppers items do very will with electrolysis.

HH Matt

 

[Erik in NJ]

I like the hydrogen peroxide method mentioned in this thread. I use a small Pyrex cup that you can find in 3-packs at the grocery store. Put about 1/2" of peroxide in the dish and heat it. Drop your coin(s) in carefully so the hot liquid doesn't splash on you!! It will fizz for a long time. When it's done or the peroxide is room temp again scrub the coin with a toothbrush and a little liquid dish soap. The side of the coin facing up gets more of the cleaning effect so you may need to repeat 2, 4, 6 times depending on the coin. Nice thing is it won't damage any of the green oxidation or patina on the coin. No sure if you want to go through all this on a wheat cent, but I clean my IH cents and other coppers like this. After you are done, the coin will appear to be "dry" looking from the reaction--rub a little pure bee's wax on the coin to make it look good again.

 

["Dr.Tones"]

I could use the practice for when I get those oldies or key dates.