SOME TIPS ON CLEANING VALUABLE COINS..

[Uncle Willy]

Light Corrosion - Soak in pure olive oil for several days until corrosion can be rubbed off with a paper towel.

Medium Corrsion - Soak in Worcestershire sauce. May take a few days and a light scrubbing with a light brass wire brush. Then give the coin a light coat of olive oil to preserve the surface.

Heavy Corrosion - Embed the coin in a raw potato. The starch within has a dissolving effect. After a few days when the heavy corrosion has been removed follow through by using methods 2 and 1 in that order.

Bill

 

[Wolfdog]

Great tips ,Thanks

 

[Flintstone]

Does this work on silver as well as copper? Thanks for the tip, Dean

 

[flash5153]

My two cents:
I didnt think anyone had enough ta tas to post this method:
I have been using a brass brush on coins for years. COPPERS ONLY,and the not so valuable ones(like I seem to find)
It works great for wheats. Small brass brush from any hardware for cleaning torch tips. Every coin is different, some cannot be helped but most clean up great this way.
If the patina or first layer of the coin is too far deterioated the brush will remove all detail. For the most part, these type coins are "junk" anyhow but may be able to identify.Dont touch the brush to them. Must look at each one first.

For silvers: I soak them in vinagar for a few hours.(it wont hurt them to leave them there for days). Few hours does the job though. Then wash them with a tooth brush and soap.(as soon as removed from vinagar). It will take the black stain on some silvers away, but does shine or polish them in any way.

I have never tried the potatoe thing but I will try it for the real crusty coins.I try to ID the coin b4 touching it with anything really. Some are so crusted that is impossible. Maybe the potatoe will help.
Hope you don't mind my two cents on this.

 

[Uncle Willy]

Works on all.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

TARN-X will take the black oxidation off silver.

Bill

 

[ohio fred]

n/t

 

[jimmy jam]

your making me hungry. thank you for the tips I'll try them.

 

[SteveP(NH)]

Don't expect coin collectors or dealers to pay much for any coin that has been cleaned with a wire brush. If you find a key date coin you will be able to sell it for more money uncleaned than you will if you try to clean it yourself.

If you just plan on keeping it then knock yourselves out and shine em up all you want.

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah throw a steak into the mix.

Bill