Cleaning coins?

[corky569]

Just curious, how should I "clean" a cent before putting it in a 2x2?

[slickeast]

clean is a dirty word.

Don't clean any coin. Let the buyer do with it what they want.

Cleaning a coin will DECREASE the value

[corky569]

I know cleaning is bad, but I mean just to remove finger prints/dust.

[Market Harmony]

bad bad bad bad bad.. no no no no no..

Now go sit in the corner

[barrytrot]

If it is 2x2 worthy then don't clean it.

But if your coin is fully "green" and you are just trying to get it to be "copper" again, then by all means clean it.

Cleaning is fine for "bullion". Not for "numismatic".

[AGCoinHunter]

Never, ever, ever clean a coin. I dont even shine my bullion...

[rainsonme]

I have a few dreadful looking indian pennies and V-nickels that I have played with cleaning. There is nothing to loose; they look AWFUL right now, but they appear to have good features underneath the paint and lord knows whatever. I started slowly. Boiled them for 20 mintues. Then cooled them under running water. I used a Q-tip with Iso-alcohol to see if I could loosen anything up. Then I put them in acetone in a sealed container, and sat it on top of the clothes dryer (for vibration and a little heat) for 3 weeks. At the end of that time, I put them under hot running water for about 10 minutes, then rubbed them with a cloth. Danged if I can see any difference from when I started. The acetone turned dark red, so something must have come off. Way too much work for no appreciable gain.

Other than hopelessly ugly coins of low value, I would never clean a coin.

[barrytrot]

I have a few dreadful looking indian pennies and V-nickels that I have played with cleaning. There is nothing to loose; they look AWFUL right now, but they appear to have good features underneath the paint and lord knows whatever. I started slowly. Boiled them for 20 mintues. Then cooled them under running water. I used a Q-tip with Iso-alcohol to see if I could loosen anything up. Then I put them in acetone in a sealed container, and sat it on top of the clothes dryer (for vibration and a little heat) for 3 weeks. At the end of that time, I put them under hot running water for about 10 minutes, then rubbed them with a cloth. Danged if I can see any difference from when I started. The acetone turned dark red, so something must have come off. Way too much work for no appreciable gain.

Other than hopelessly ugly coins of low value, I would never clean a coin.

I bust out laughing when I got to "Danged if I can see any difference from when I started". You had like 5 steps that each took either several minutes or weeks and then at the end "nothing"

[corky569]

I have just found a few real nice bu wheats, and wanted to get the fingerprints, dust, and black sports off, I guess I should leave them alone?

[slickeast]

I have just found a few real nice bu wheats, and wanted to get the fingerprints, dust, and black sports off, I guess I should leave them alone?

How does a coin with fingerprints, and other blemishes be bu? Au would fit the coin better. IMO

[flbandit]

Never, ever, ever clean a coin. I dont even shine my bullion...

Sorry but I can't resist, I was shining my bullion the other day.....

[Know Common Cents]

I agree 100% with the statement that coins shouldn't be cleaned. Seems absurd to practice cleaning worthless samples since you shouldn't be cleaning anything worth keeping.

[corky569]

I have just found a few real nice bu wheats, and wanted to get the fingerprints, dust, and black sports off, I guess I should leave them alone?

How does a coin with fingerprints, and other blemishes be bu? Au would fit the coin better. IMO

I'm sorry, I meant to say that they were real shiny. Not like any wheat I'd seen before.

[rainsonme]

"I agree 100% with the statement that coins shouldn't be cleaned. Seems absurd to practice cleaning worthless samples since you shouldn't be cleaning anything worth keeping"

are you really suggesting to a guy who date sorts 100's of pounds of pennies that he is wasting his time cleaning worthless samples?

[Mossy]

What effect does motor oil have on collectables?

[justoneguy]

What effect does motor oil have on collectables?

I t RUINS them + all their value too.
now sell me all that silver at half price,
b4 someone else charges you to haul it away.

[just carl]

There are many ways to clean coins.
1. Place the coin on a steel table or chair. Light a Butane torch and place the tip of the flame on that coin.
2. Purchase some auto battery Acid. Place some in a glass jar, add your coins to that.
3. If you have an electric wire wheel set up, purchase a Brass Wire Wheel and use it on your coins.
4. Place coins to be cleaned on a rock. Purchase gun powder and pile some on the coin and light it.
Or you could just NOT clean the coins. That is actually the preferred thing to do.

[uthminsta]

5. Eat the coin. After a few days, when it comes back to you, it will look like new.
6. Throw it in a bowl of bleach.
7. Use a pencil eraser on it. Really makes those dark coppers shine!