Video. How to clean dug buffalo and V nickels

[dk dogs]

This is a video I made on how to clean "rusty" buffalo and V nickels. The process is the same for old Jefferson nickels. The pictures are from a couple I cleaned a few weeks ago. I am new to this video stuff so its not the best but you will get the idea. If you have any questions let me know.

How to clean "rusty" buffalo nickels

 

[VBDave]

Good technique, but I'd advise against doing it in the sink. Won't take many coin cleanings to fill the trap with dirt and shards of steel wool. They're much heavier than water and won't be flushed through the pipe at all. And they won't get dissolved by Drano and the like. I learned this the hard way, rinsing sand off of beach finds.

 

[dk dogs]

Good to know.
Thanks

 

[John(H)]

..Looks Good...but make sure there are No 3 Legged Buffaloes....and/or rare dates or mistrikes ...your process takes the patina away plus it ruins the Numismatic value...now if you are just cleaning it to make jewelry or for home display...then that is a good procedure .....

 

[dmckee17]

Thanks for the great info, mine all look crappy. I got some cleaning to do...

 

[mcb613]

Seems like alot of scrubbing. If you are going that far, might be quicker to use nitric acid. Ina few seconds they will be a bright as can be. Both processes take material away. I use nitric acid for a quick bath on my clad before running it thru the banks coin counter. Works magic in seconds. Be careful of the acid though and neutralize before disposal.

 

[Thrasher]

this is a great video, thanks!! I ound my first V Nickel over this past weekend and it is rusty as all get out. I cleaned it ehough with a paper towel, water, my fingernail, and a thin scrub brush to see the stars, V, head, and date, but it still looks horrible....
I'll efinitely be trying your technique!! Thanks!

 

[BarberBill]

Soaking them overnight in Worcestershire sauce works quite well with no scratches.
BB

 

[Guthrieden]

Heat a small amount of hydrogen peroxide in a glass jar or shot glass the microwave soak coins. May take a few times but it works without sanding the coin away.

 

[mcb613]

I use this for coppers, but doesnt do much for nickles. I have thought about the steel wool trick and it makes sense for regular, non collector grade. The metsl is hard enough not to get worn, but corrosion does.

 

[Thrasher]

too bad they don't have a brillo attachment for a dremel tool.... this worked good on my V-Nickel, but my fingers didn't appreciate the effort.

 

[squarenail_cache]

3m actually makes a tool which fits in a drill and brillo like disks screw into the tool. they are probobly like 2 inches in diameter they would work good if you had some way to hold the coin.