How can I clean this old dime
- Thread starter whynot
- Start date
Dave in PC
Forum Supporter
I have good luck using just plain baking soda and water..make a paste and rub on the coin. Nice seated dime btw..
Bentfork
In memory of...
First of all, can you tell the date and mint mark? If it is a key date coin and worth a considerable sum - DON'T clean it. Seated coins aren't necessarily rare, but they definitely are not in the same class as Mercs or Rosies. If you clean a key date coin, it's ruined. The most you should ever do to silver coins that aren't rare, or for that matter any coin, is soak them in soapy water for about a week and then run clean water over it without rubbing them. Then use low pressure air to dry it.
There are many threads on this forum and coin collecting forums addressing cleaning of coins. The rule of thumb is first to know what you have before doing anything.
G.
There are many threads on this forum and coin collecting forums addressing cleaning of coins. The rule of thumb is first to know what you have before doing anything.
G.
Iron Patch
Elite Member
Hard to tell from that picture what is going on... but soaking in lemon juice is much more forgiving on the surface than an abrasive or something much more on the acid side. If lemon won't do anything then you would probably need something much stronger like a dip, but that could leave a dug coin looking pretty ugly and gray.
PS... If you are fairly new to detecting you'd be surprised how your taste can change. When I started I thought very shiny coins looked great, and green patina on brass and copper made a dug find not look natural. Now about 11 years later I have the total opposite thinking.
PS... If you are fairly new to detecting you'd be surprised how your taste can change. When I started I thought very shiny coins looked great, and green patina on brass and copper made a dug find not look natural. Now about 11 years later I have the total opposite thinking.
edgarlild
Forum Supporter
To me the coin looks to be 1857 but i cant see any mint mark....
whynot
Senior Member
yeah I dont see a mint mark either. is there supposed to be one?
Bentfork
In memory of...
'57 Philly has no mint mark and it's not rare either. Use some soap and water and slap in in a 2X2. Nice find!
G.
Bonesquat
Elite Member
TOOTHPASTE. It can be mildly abrasive but I've tumbled some low value silver coins with toothpaste ans aquarium gravel and they come out great.
