Opinions wanted on cleaning Indian Heads

[drkp88]

I've been finding alot of IHs lately - especially between two old parks. I really don't have much spare time so I've only been basically washing them off at
this point. What is the best method of actually cleaning off the harder residue/crusties without ruining the green patina?
Bruce in CT

 

[onemore]

If it's the extremely hard, sand-like clumpy green material, I suggest leaving it as is. Usually when I remove the clump, I end up with a severely pitted surface.

I am hoping someday someone invents a good way to remove this super hard stuff without surface damage.

 

[dewcon4414]

Hes right most of the time if you mess with them too much you get spotted coins that arent very appealing. Now what i do like is using mineral oil on them when ive cleaned them. Ive noticed using mineral oil keep them from looking crusty and dry. Also on LCs and wheats if you clean them yoiu get a purple look... the mineral oil seems to keep their natural brown color. You have to look at each coin... some of them i find are so ruff that i just tumble them. Ive been surprised in some cases how clean it gets them and normally i get a date. Fatties and LCs can take a lot of cleaning...... other IHs not so much. Most methods will remove some of that pantina or part of it which looks worse than just having them green. Q tips and mineral oil is how i start out cleaning them.

Dew

 

[Big Fang Coin Biter]

This is the best way I have found and it does not touch the patina. Take a coffee cup, pour in half an inch or so of hydrogen peroxide, put it in the microwave for a minute or until boiling, remove from microwave, toss in a few IH's. Let them boil away and soak for a couple hours. Take a soft toothbrush and a tiny bit of dish soap and lightly scrub off remaining dirt. If necessary repeat the process for stubborn dirt. This will remove the hard stuck-on dirt/coating that most IH have, but will leave the patina. Once they are clean and dried out completely they tend to look a bit too dry. Take a q-tip and some olive oil and coat them. This will turn them dark but eventually they will dry and return to the patina color. The q-tip and olive oil can also be a good way to remove remaining stuck on dirt. In my area (SW lower MI) this is the easiest and best way to clean them up. Nothing will take off the thick green corrosion that some get - that stuff becomes part of the coin. Try it, you will like it.

HH - BF

 

[Chris(SoCenWI)]

n/t

 

[drkp88]

Thanks all for the responses!
Bruce

 

[dewcon4414]

The only difference between olive oil and mineral spirits.... olive oil is corrosive and will continue to eat away at the coin. According to coin world mineral spirits wont hurt the coin.... light coat it and slab it before it dries. Just as effective without damage over time.

Dew

 

[weequay]

Do you mean mineral oil? I may be incorrect, but I thought mineral spirits is the same as paint thinner.