What went wrong ? :confused:

[Quartzsite]

[attachment 132815 coinsdesolved.JPG]

I cleaned some coins in white vinegar and a little salt and they started to disolve ??? Has this happened to anyone before ?

 

[John-Edmonton]

If you use salt and vinegar, you should only use it for a very short time. Too long in that solution and that's what you get. For a small batch of coins like that, soak them in hot soapy water for a couple of hours, then using cold water, grab a toothbrush and toothpaste and brush them clean. Or......soak them in hydrogen peroxide for about 24 hours, but don't let the edges touch each other, or they will tarnish.

 

[cwilk]

Vinegar and salt combine to make weak hydrochloric acid. It will tear a coin up especially copper and zinc cents. I stopped adding vinegar to my tumbler becasue I don't like the smell or the way it leaves coins very flat looking. I still find the best way to clean modern coins is 5 or 6 hours in a tumbler with coarse gravel, warm water, and detergent. I have a big mayonaise jar full of zinc cents that are too far gone to put back into circulation.

Chris