Barber Qtr and Standing Qtr cleaned, Before after

[Bonesquat]

I used boiling peroxide to clean these. I'm having mixed feeling about it. Wondering if I should have let them be. What do you think?

[goes4ever]

I like em better, I still think electrolysis is the best way, it does NOT remove any patina, only the gunk and rust stains would have came off, I know your afraid but trust me, I have used it many times on rusty and black silver coins, works like a champ

[Greek2Me]

I like the barber better clean. I can't tell much difference on the SLQ. They look good either way in my book.

G2M

[Jressman]

You could always re- tarnish silver coins. It's pretty easy to do.

[bazeball7]

Although the barber looks a little "washed out", I like her better that way than with the nasty sunburn she used to have. Too bad that darn nail was in the hole.

[EdNargel]

The Barber looks better, you might try electrolysis on the Standing Liberty its worth a shot.

[Spm673 (The Jersey Digger)]

I agree with Terry but I also think CLR will work as well...

[swinging4gold]

I just rigged up an electrolysis unit out of a lawn-mower battery and some old wire. I was in a hurry to try it, so I wrapped the wire around an old wheat and it worked great.

Nothing to be afraid of as far as plugging something into a wall-socket. You could even try a weaker battery first if you want to "gently" clean your coin. Like floppy:

http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?t=113292

[swinging4gold]

I also recommend taking your coin out of electrolysis after a minute or so. I dry mine with 100 percent acetone, then duct-tape the surface. I find that I need no more than a minute to loosen the corrosion enough for the duct-tape to pull it all off. Compared with peroxide, electrolysis isn't just the fastest method, it also doesn't damage patina. Just use moderation.

I soaked a heavily corroded wheat in multiple changes of peroxide over three weeks before I finally got fed up and tried electrolysis. One minute and some tape and all the corrosion came off on the tape.

[Silver_Sn1per]

Looks good brother.

[calaveras]

Definitely liked the barber better before cleaning...but its your choice

[Bonesquat]

Originally Posted by calaveras

Definitely liked the barber better before cleaning...but its your choice

I did too. Unfortunately my dad 'helped' me clean the barber and he ruined it. It was fine until he decided to add LIME juice to the mix!!!

[Jressman]

Originally Posted by Bonesquat

I did too. Unfortunately my dad 'helped' me clean the barber and he ruined it. It was fine until he decided to add LIME juice to the mix!!!

thats too bad,

Just thow it in a jar with a mashed up hardboiled egg and it will be re-tarnished the way it looked when you pulled it out of the ground. The sulfur in the egg yolk tarnishes silver pretty quickly. It will give it the aged look again. Since your not selling it, you wont have to hear some pompus numismatic tell you its been cleaned and re-patina'd

[goes4ever]

I tried the egg trick before and didn't work for me, left it in there for 10 days and absolutely no change whatsoever

[Bonesquat]

I know how to retarnish. Put in boiling peroxide for about 2 minutes. Will come out darker. But I think I'll keep it the way it is. Might bury it and let it tone naturally.

[goes4ever]

Originally Posted by Bonesquat

I know how to retarnish. Put in boiling peroxide for about 2 minutes. Will come out darker. But I think I'll keep it the way it is. Might bury it and let it tone naturally.

peroxide doesn't make silver darker, only copper.....and it you plan on burying it, be prepared to wait 50 yrs for it to turn
how many 1940's mercs have you dug that were shiny as the day they were lost

[MD 12/46]

I thought that mixing silver with peroxide was a dangerous thing, or so I've read...

[kermitdfrog]

Haha yeah I know that one of the first "jetpacks" was fueled by peroxide that was sprayed(I think) through silver screens creating a rather violent reaction, when it comes to silver coins I'm not sure.

[NoShow]

Has anyone tried an ultrasonic cleaner? I would think that that would work. I use mine for all sorts of things and love it. Both of mine are Bransonic brand and are excellent machines.

Be careful as many are actually 'vibrasonic' which is NOT the same as ultrasonic. I would also steer clear of the cheap "Horror Freight" garbage.

Who uses an ultrasonic cleaner?