Bentfork
In memory of...
Over the years (40 to be exact) of metal detecting, I have heard just about everything possible for cleaning coins.
When it comes to modern coinage, I have no desire to make it look pretty. Nor do I care to roll anything except quarters. The only reason I do that is because I stick them in the motorhome for laundry services while on the road. I simply go to my local Coinstar and dump them in. Hand me my Amazon credit - thank you very much. Our local Coinstar doesn't tap you for 8.5% if you take a credit from one of their sponsors. Your's is probably the same.
Anyway, I have no desire to mess with sand, a tumbler, ammonia, navel jelly, or high voltage. A Coinstar machine is stupid and could care less if they are discolored. About the only thing it cares about is bent or chewed up coins, non US coins, and zincolns that have malignant cancer.
Here's what I do for cleaning modern coinage. When the time comes I put them into an empty spaghetti sauce jar, add about a half cup of dishwasher powder, fill to the neck with water, and put the lid on it. Shake it well and forget about it for 2 days. After 2 days the solution has not only removed the major dirt, but it has removed most all the grime too. Rinse and throw in your sand scoop for drying. The reason I use dishwasher powder is because it's non-hazardous to your health or the environment. No electricity involved either. Dishwasher powder is very good at breaking down organic matter as well as dirt. Remember the commercials that say, "you can put this 6 year old dirty lasagna pan in our whiz bang, high enzyme dishwashing powder and it will come out sparkling". There is some truth to it. Dishwashing powder chemically breaks down food. It doesn't just loosen it. It actually has enzymes to liquify it. Give it a try. It will remove most of the rust on those quarters, dimes, and nickels too. Plus, it doesn't foam!
They won't sparkle though.
Happy Hunting!
Gary
When it comes to modern coinage, I have no desire to make it look pretty. Nor do I care to roll anything except quarters. The only reason I do that is because I stick them in the motorhome for laundry services while on the road. I simply go to my local Coinstar and dump them in. Hand me my Amazon credit - thank you very much. Our local Coinstar doesn't tap you for 8.5% if you take a credit from one of their sponsors. Your's is probably the same.
Anyway, I have no desire to mess with sand, a tumbler, ammonia, navel jelly, or high voltage. A Coinstar machine is stupid and could care less if they are discolored. About the only thing it cares about is bent or chewed up coins, non US coins, and zincolns that have malignant cancer.
Here's what I do for cleaning modern coinage. When the time comes I put them into an empty spaghetti sauce jar, add about a half cup of dishwasher powder, fill to the neck with water, and put the lid on it. Shake it well and forget about it for 2 days. After 2 days the solution has not only removed the major dirt, but it has removed most all the grime too. Rinse and throw in your sand scoop for drying. The reason I use dishwasher powder is because it's non-hazardous to your health or the environment. No electricity involved either. Dishwasher powder is very good at breaking down organic matter as well as dirt. Remember the commercials that say, "you can put this 6 year old dirty lasagna pan in our whiz bang, high enzyme dishwashing powder and it will come out sparkling". There is some truth to it. Dishwashing powder chemically breaks down food. It doesn't just loosen it. It actually has enzymes to liquify it. Give it a try. It will remove most of the rust on those quarters, dimes, and nickels too. Plus, it doesn't foam!
They won't sparkle though.
Happy Hunting!
Gary
After a while they start to see more of them, not really noticing who put them there. The griping starts, and I put on my poker face. I have more, but there is always next week.....:spin:
