OK. I lied

[Ken (Australia)]

I know I said I'd had my last hunt for the year but things were pretty quite around here this afternoon and I thought I could hear Queen Victoria calling me, so I went out to the toll gate site for a couple of hours. Ended up with a 1951 sixpence, three pennies, 1882, 1885, 1891 and an 1895 halfpenny. Thanks for looking and I hope everyone has an enjoyable and safe New Year....Ken.

 

[beachguy777]

That's exciting Ken!!! Boy if those coins could talk?:::|

 

[Golden]

they come out in much better nick than from the beach! All my pre-decimals were worn, or I can't get all the gunk off them.

 

[beachguy777]

Now Golden, all you have to do is hook the "frankenstein" electrodes up to them and it'll take ALL, the gunk off them. Only trouble is, it might start taking the "original" metal off of them too. That seems to be the problem with this electrolysis thing, besides the questionable problem of making them too "clean" for the serious buyers out there inclucing coin dealeres. You know I'm "playing with you" a little on this one, but I'm also serious in what I'm saying. Marc. (I'm still wondering about this electrolysis thing as far as we're concerned with coins and relics).

 

[Golden]

Hello Beachguy, I've used the electrolosis method on coins before, but found out unfortunately that leaving them in a bit too long will errode them! I nearly died when this happened to some of my much older coins. I had to sit there and keep an eye on them, taking them out every few seconds to see if they were okay! Anyway, with the coins like the silver florin with all the hard stuck on gunk that seems to be fused onto the coin, if I were to use this method of cleaning, I'm scared it start to eat into the silver, before I could shift the gunk, and I'm not willing to take the risk. I've tried a mild sop with toothbrush and a nylon scourer, but the silver is soft. I haven't use the WD40 yet, but it was suggested I try soaking it in olive oil, which I will. Maybe it'll soften the rubbish enough to move it. See how I go. As for the electrolosis method, I like to use it on some relics, but still need to be careful with it.
Golden

 

[beachguy777]

Amen, Golden. Your right. It's a scary proposition, and a frustrating one when you have really bad insanely hard green patina or bad crud on them. I'm not sure what the answer is either, but it's risky at any rate in terms of coin or relic value. Thanks for the post. Marc.