First cool bar token... do you guys clean your tokens?

[GimmieThe Loot]

Got my first flower style token last night and was wondering if I could do anything to make it easier to read. Anyone tried the Hydrogen Peroxide method on a token? Any other suggestions? Also, does anyone know of a good site that I might be able to ID this token and trace its year?

Thanks and HH!

 

[Cal_Cobra]

This is the best site to look up a token I've found, really a great site IMHO (only thing missing is prices, and that's a tough one for tokens):

http://tokencatalog.com/

As for cleaning the token, it looks like it's brass so you could try a small brass wire brush and cleaning the funk off that way, or you could soak it in transmission fluid, but that's a slow process. The beauty of tokens, is that for the most part, token collectors aren't like coin collectors as far as condition is concerned. Obviously the better the condition, the more desirable it'll be, but tokens are so rare, that just having one in any condition if it's the right one can still bring a pretty penny.

I can't quite make it out. If you can read it, what's it say on both sides?

HH,
Brian

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Brian's right: a token in the condition yours is in (based on your pix) doesn't seem to even need much cleaning. Not only is it already in good shape, but token buffs, as Brian says, are much more forgiving of token shape, than coin-buffs are.

Seems like all you need on yours, is just some light brushing with one of those kitchen sponges with that green scrubber side to it. And if you want to get agressive, sure: the old boiling hydrogen peroxide trick, followed by the dish-scrubber pad. But don't give it a "whizzed up" polished appearance. Just enough to revea the wording better, if anything.

 

[GimmieThe Loot]

This is the best site to look up a token I've found, really a great site IMHO (only thing missing is prices, and that's a tough one for tokens):

http://tokencatalog.com/

As for cleaning the token, it looks like it's brass so you could try a small brass wire brush and cleaning the funk off that way, or you could soak it in transmission fluid, but that's a slow process. The beauty of tokens, is that for the most part, token collectors aren't like coin collectors as far as condition is concerned. Obviously the better the condition, the more desirable it'll be, but tokens are so rare, that just having one in any condition if it's the right one can still bring a pretty penny.

I can't quite make it out. If you can read it, what's it say on both sides?

HH,
Brian

Hi Brian - it is only stamped on the one side and says "H. Meckel - Good for 5c at bar"

 

[Cal_Cobra]

I searched Meckel on the token database and didn't get any hits, so it may well be a maverick. At least it has a name on it, perhaps with a bit of sleuthing you can determine if it was a local business. If you're able to find it, send Richard, the token database owner, your findings so he can add it to the database (and it'll no longer be a maverick).

HH,
Brian

 

[Jason in Enid]

Do NOT use a wire brush of any kind on that token! Bar and brothel token are the most collected and higest priced tokens. Clean it with a toothbrush and soap. If you want to get REALLY aggressive, rub it between your fingers with some baking soda.

 

[GimmieThe Loot]

I actually don't even own a wire brush besides the one for the BBQ. I don't think I will use anything besides a toothbrush and maybe a toothpick on this.

 

[Goes4ever]

here is how I clean indians, wheats, tokens, large cents..basically everything BUT silver...if you seen my finds pics, my stuff comes out looking good with this method. That token will clean up real nice if you follow these directions:

get the coin, or token wet, put on dish soap, take a toothbrush and scrub like mad, rinse and repeat if dirt remains, might take a few times. once 99% of dirt is gone, dry the coin, take a toothpick to pick out remaining dirt between numbers and letters, then apply some wax to both sides, I use paraffin wax used for making candy, rub it in both sides real well, then take a real soft cloth and buff off the excess wax, this restores the luster and protects as well

 

[reltolbert]

Enhanced your token to see it better.

 

[cosmic]

Try some auto wheel and mag cleaner.. Works well on aluminum and brass tokens..