Cleaning Dug U.S. Quarters & Nickels

ToddB64

Sr. Member
Jan 7, 2007
418
73
Georgetown, Ohio, USA
Detector(s) used
Teknetics Gamma 6000,
Tesoro Bandido II µMax and
Compadre, White's Classic II,
Garrett Ace 250
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Cleaning Dug U.S. Quarters & Nickels

Hi everyone !

The surface metal of Washington Quarters 1965 to date and Jefferson Nickels 1938 - 1942 and 1946 to date, is an alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel, according to my 2006 Red Book.

When dug from the ground, some of the above Quarters and Nickels are stained various shades of pink, orange, brown, etc., depending on the minerals and moisture in the ground and length of time buried.

Is there a cleaning process that will return the surface color of these coins to something close to the original color when in circulation ? I would like a simple process that doesn't involve a long list of steps, isn't too complicated and doesn't involve tumbling, since I don't have a tumbler.

Thanks,

Todd :icon_salut:
 

The rule I use is not to clean coinage, If older / rarer it could adversly affect the value. Some people actually like the look of "toned" coins and give premiums on them. If spending them clean away.
 

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