What is a good way to de-crud old coins?

[MassSaltH2O]

Hi. Pls forgive me if this question has been posted before. What if someone went to the ocean and found something which might be a coin, but it is encrusted with rust and pieces of shell, etc? What is a good way to disolve that crud? Thanks so much, kev

 

[sparkster]

Best way is with a rock tumbler from Harbour Freight. Get the dual barrel one if you are hunting a lot. The coin you are speaking of might be real difficult
To get clean without destroying the coin. Look on the bright side, it's no good the way it is.

 

[kingingkunsan]

Yep. I agree. Rock tumbler with some aquarium gravel and blue dawn dish soap. just enough water to cover the coins and gravel. Tumble for about 2 hours (depending on how many and how dirty) I do this to all my clad. good luck

 

[nwdetectorist]

If you suspect it could be a valuable coin --- it is worth soaking in Hydrogen Peroxide 3%.
That is the same Hydrogen Peroxide you purchase at the grocery or drug store.

Take a look at this link that shows how a crusty disc became a nice 1877 Japanese coin after a few weeks of soak and scrub - soak and scrub - soak and scrub.
I was very careful not to get agressive with the scrubbing until I was sure how much crud VS how much coin would be scrubbed away.
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?18,939819,941897#msg-941897

Of, course the type of metal surely effects how all this works as well.
Here is another link from a coin site that talks about coin cleaning, and different methods; including hydrogen peroxide.

http://www.coincommunity.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=99361&SearchTerms=cleaning,hydrogen,peroxide

http://www.coincommunity.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=101485&SearchTerms=peroxide

I am curious to learn more because I have some really crudded up old Indian Head cents that I would like to know the dates on.
I also have a decent (if I can remove the encrustation) 1872 IH cent that will be worth a lot more unencumbered

I am going to experiment a bit when I get the cash with some of the commercially available coin cleaners i.e. "verdi-clean", and others.
I will also try to do some cleaning with acetone on some of my crusty leftovers to see what happens.
NEVER NEVER NEVER will I even consider any of these treatments for my 1891s Seated Liberty Quarter.
So the original value/rarity of the coin counts in making the right decision.
But, what if you cannot even tell what the coin is without some heavy-duty cleaning?



nwdetectorist

TOO MUCH DIRT, NOT ENUFF TIME!