Cleaning coins!!!

[huntzman]

hey all i just cleaned up some old coins with hydroclhoric acid diluted with water the result is great anyone else out there do this ? huntzo:

[huntzman]

Originally Posted by huntzman

hey all i just cleaned up some old coins with hydroclhoric acid diluted with water the result is great anyone else out there do this ? huntzo:

ps. i had some copper 1 and 2 cent coins in with the silver they seem to have stained a few of the silver coins with the copper !!!!!! :P

[mooncalfmetal]

I think ACID would destroy an old coin or any coin.

Dont try 50/50 mix of bleach and water either, I killed my first kennedy half that way. BUT it works great on relics, you can watch the grime just fall off! Watching relics in the bleach reminds me of electrolysis with no wires!

[Jason in Enid]

Originally Posted by huntzman

ps. i had some copper 1 and 2 cent coins in with the silver they seem to have stained a few of the silver coins with the copper !!!!!! :P

Yep, that'll happen every time. Only clean same metal types together. And yes, using acid is WAY too harsh for anything other than clad coins.

[simonthesearcher]

said it 1000 times so heres 1001.Dont clean old coins with anything abrasive

[Mike1961]

Originally Posted by simonthesearcher

said it 1000 times so heres 1001.Dont clean old coins with anything abrasive

Unless you WANT to ruin the coin and destroy any potential value it may have.

[brocifus]

I use that method

[gtoast99]

I usually leave my dug silver in tarn-x for a few days. A week or more if it's a key date or a real old one. The coppers tend to be in worse shape, so I hit em with a bench grinder for a bit, cleans em right up.

And yes, this is my satirical way of saying your cleaning method is WAY to harsh for old coins! :P Probably works good on clad, if you're comfortable and knowledgeable around chemicals, but silvers and two cent coins? I'd recommend something a lot less damaging.

[RyanChappell]

Originally Posted by huntzman

hey all i just cleaned up some old coins with hydroclhoric acid diluted with water the result is great anyone else out there do this ? huntzo:

I would not use acid on any valuable coin ever.

I would not use acid on copper coins. It will pit them.

After using acid I would wash the coin in soap, rinse, and soak in baking soda solution for a 5-60 minutes, because I have left acid on pennies before and it will pit them.

Acid works better on silver than copper. I have tried vinegar on silver. It will get the coin too shiny reducing its value to melt, so do not use on silver.

Rule #1 never clean a coin.

[huntzman]

thanks for the reply's i never did my older coins like this! only modern coins they look much more presentable now!

[leslie(nova scotia)]

From the land of the Bluenose.....that is a new twist. Can't say I heard that as a cleaning agent before but if it does the dew.....go fur it!