Cleaning a US large cent help

[CoilyGirl]

We received a box of CW relics in the mail today and in it was a pretty crusty US large cent.I can see the face pretty clearly though and on the reverse I can see a little coppery sheen on part of the coin so that is encouraging and I'm wondering if the coin could be salvaged.My husband has used electrolysis on cannonballs before,is this method safe on copper coins? The coin in question is the one on the left.Thanks in advance for the advise.

 

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[boris]

We received a box of CW relics in the mail today and in it was a pretty crusty US large cent.I can see the face pretty clearly though and on the reverse I can see a little coppery sheen on part of the coin so that is encouraging and I'm wondering if the coin could be salvaged.My husband has used electrolysis on cannonballs before,is this method safe on copper coins? The coin in question is the one on the left.Thanks in advance for the advise.

Olive oil soak for some time and then in a week or two use an old toothbrush, it works for me. HH Boris

 

[CoilyGirl]

Olive oil soak for some time and then in a week or two use an old toothbrush, it works for me. HH Boris<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=732487"/>

Thanks, I'll try that but I wonder how to get the corrosion off first?

 

[CoilyGirl]

I'll admit,probably in bad taste to thread bump and I promise I'll never do it again but can someone purdy please tell me how to clean this coin faster than soaking it in olive oil?

 

[digging440yrs]

HEY COILY, NO OFFENCE BUT THE LARGE CENT LOOKS KINDA RUFF. I DONT THINK YOU WOULD HURT IT ANY WITH ELECTROLYSIS. GIVE IT A TRY, I WOULD.----GOOD LUCK--TOM

 

[boris]

The olive oil will turn green as it has acid in it?

 

[CoilyGirl]

HEY COILY, NO OFFENCE BUT THE LARGE CENT LOOKS KINDA RUFF. I DONT THINK YOU WOULD HURT IT ANY WITH ELECTROLYSIS. GIVE IT A TRY, I WOULD.----GOOD LUCK--TOM

No offence taken and I will have him try that since it was a freebie anyway.

 

[BuckleBoy]

That's a tough one. I might be tempted to tumble it with some very fine media in a rock tumbler...that would keep it from pitting. But, if you go the electrolysis route, you will want it Very Low and continuously monitored. Low amperage.

I might try the peroxide method on it first. That might loosen the corrosion--but you'll have to toothpick/skewer the corrosion away. It's not for the faint of heart to be so aggressive with the cleaning methods, and likely under the corrosion will be spots of color that will look strange if you go the peroxide route. Nothing lost this way, and it is the least damaging. Then if it fails you could try the electrolysis. Low amperage, continuously monotored.

 

[CoilyGirl]

That's a tough one. I might be tempted to tumble it with some very fine media in a rock tumbler...that would keep it from pitting. But, if you go the electrolysis route, you will want it Very Low and continuously monitored. Low amperage.

I might try the peroxide method on it first. That might loosen the corrosion--but you'll have to toothpick/skewer the corrosion away. It's not for the faint of heart to be so aggressive with the cleaning methods, and likely under the corrosion will be spots of color that will look strange if you go the peroxide route. Nothing lost this way, and it is the least damaging. Then if it fails you could try the electrolysis. Low amperage, continuously monotored.

Thank you so much Buckle Boy,will let you know how it turns out.

 

[how u do n]

Here is an easy way to clean them and,it works pretty darn good.
I have used this before with very nice results.
Take a large potato and put the penny inside it. Leave it for 12 hours.
Take the penny out and wash it off with water.
Put the penny back in a different part of the potato for 12 hours.
Keep doing this until you get the penny the way you want.
The starch in the potato will do all the work for you.
I have done it several times before,and it always works pretty darn well.
Good luck hand

 

[ctitech0019]

Here is an easy way to clean them and,it works pretty darn good.
I have used this before with very nice results.
Take a large potato and put the penny inside it. Leave it for 12 hours.
Take the penny out and wash it off with water.
Put the penny back in a different part of the potato for 12 hours.
Keep doing this until you get the penny the way you want.
The starch in the potato will do all the work for you.
I have done it several times before,and it always works pretty darn well.
Good luck hand

REALLY?

 

[how u do n]

Yes I have done it with lots of pennies.
Try it and you will be surprised.

 

[digging440yrs]

COILY, let us know how and what---we all find them in that condition sooner or later, i tend to try diff methods----tom

 

[CoilyGirl]

Here is an easy way to clean them and,it works pretty darn good.
I have used this before with very nice results.
Take a large potato and put the penny inside it. Leave it for 12 hours.
Take the penny out and wash it off with water.
Put the penny back in a different part of the potato for 12 hours.
Keep doing this until you get the penny the way you want.
The starch in the potato will do all the work for you.
I have done it several times before,and it always works pretty darn well.
Good luck hand

Sounds interesting for sure,I read about that technique.Think when I I get back from a trip next week I will try the hydrogen peroxide method on a small area and see how the coin reacts. I'm willing to try the slow olive oil soaking too.With the condition that the coin is in it can't hurt.

 

[sandy shoes]

cook it in hot olive oil and use a tooth brush the heat loosens up everything/ careful with peroxide method it killed one of my coppers

 

[sandy shoes]

you are making a potato battery that is why the dirt come off it is a form of electrolysis and it does work but takes a while

 

[GatorBoy]

We received a box of CW relics in the mail today and in it was a pretty crusty US large cent.I can see the face pretty clearly though and on the reverse I can see a little coppery sheen on part of the coin so that is encouraging and I'm wondering if the coin could be salvaged.My husband has used electrolysis on cannonballs before,is this method safe on copper coins? The coin in question is the one on the left.Thanks in advance for the advise.

Electrolysis will work great..you just need a mild current.. a potato is a little bit too mild.
Separate the wires in a cell phone charger.
Use baking soada to make a mild electrolyte solution and check the coin every minute or so.
Copper cooks quick so don't walk away from it.

 

[Diggin-N-Dumps]

..Ok First you need 2 shots of whiskey...some baking soda and olive oil....down the shots..then clean the coins...No regrets!