Hydrogen peroxide trashed my IH!!!

[mangum]

I found an 1883 IH which I ruined by going against my own advice... I used the toothpick method which is fine & I recommend... BUT there was a lot of crud that I couldn't get off so I figured WTH, I'll try to remove the rest of the crud with hydrogen peroxide since everyone speaks highly of the method. I heated a bit to a boil in the microwave & left it in for 5 minutes. Now I have a dark, almost black coin & the date is barely legible (you can see the pic when I dug it, looked way better) Did I do something wrong? I should have left it alone but oh well, I've found some really nice IHs this year, can't complain. I'll just give this one to the landowner, he'll be happy to have it. Is there anything I can do to make this better? I hate that I lost the green patina. I usually just toothpick & use no water on IHs & they usually turn out great. Has anyone else ruined an IH this way? I posted these same questions in Today's finds but my post disappeared to the bottom quick (maybe I should have put memorial penny found & got more replies lol)

 

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[goldnugget]

Sorry for your misfortune. I tried some Hot Hydrogen Peroxide on a Greenie flat button tonight without much Luck, mine was a Beach Find. I still need to experiment- goldnugget

 

[watercolor]

It's not your fault. Peroxoide WILL NOT dissolve the mineral content of the coin.

Most often, the "crud" on the coin (its crust) will preserve an image of the coin's detail even AFTER
the actual mineral content of the coin has been chemically dissolved in the soil. So, once the crud is removed
from peroxide, all you have left is a pitted slug.

Once I found a beautiful 1910-S wheaty that was green with crud and after I used peroxide to clean it,
all that was left was a pitted copper disk.

In future situations, you might consider the "dry-brush" or toothpick method. That being said, if you find a key-date
copper and have it graded, it will MOST LIKELY come back graded "environmentally damaged" and worth little.

 

[mangum]

It's not your fault. Peroxoide WILL NOT dissolve the mineral content of the coin.

Most often, the "crud" on the coin (its crust) will preserve an image of the coin's detail even AFTER
the actual mineral content of the coin has been chemically dissolved in the soil. So, once the crud is removed
from peroxide, all you have left is a pitted slug.

Once I found a beautiful 1910-S wheaty that was green with crud and after I used peroxide to clean it,
all that was left was a pitted copper disk.

In future situations, you might consider the "dry-brush" or toothpick method. That being said, if you find a key-date
copper and have it graded, it will MOST LIKELY come back graded "environmentally damaged" and worth little.

You're right, I always just use a toothpick normally with awesome results. And that's the method I preach & recommend. Sometimes it's just hard to keep yourself from cleaning a little more lol. Below are a few that I've used the toothpick method in & they look great! I'll just practice what I preach from now on! I love to keep the green patina. At least I didn't trash something really valuable!

 

[gamiller]

At least you shared your experience with us and shared your knowledge, you might have saved someone from doing the same thing.

 

[fever87]

I've had a lot of success with "Scrubbing Bubbles" shower refill soap. I just let the coin (had lots of success with buttons as well) soak for a while and the crud/dirt lifts off and leaves the patina. Just rinse off and repeat (if necessary). Softens the dirt/crud so you can toothpick it if needed.

 

[BryanM362]

I don't think the peroxide was the problem. It cleaned the coin, but as mentioned above, the coin was already damaged beneath the crud on it.

 

[golden sluice]

If you want to clean crud off of patina coins correctly, use a jar with olive oil. Let your coins sit for a month or more. Let the coins saturate and the crud will sludge off the coin. The coin base metal will be intact. Next try a q tip to rub out the crevices. Please dont scrub with 3M (greenie meanies), it will destroy patina. Patience is best.

 

[civil_war22]

Looks like u could use a toothpick again and possibly pick that off there.

 

[Newfiehunter]

I've used both peroxide and olive oil methods and both will turn your coin BLACK! Sometimes you're better off leaving it alone, rather than making it worse. If you can see good detail, just use water and a light brushing with a toothbrush. One question though. How do you use a toothpick to clean it? You would have to let is soak for a long time to be able to remove it with a toothpick. It seems tedious. Just curious.

 

[Tnmountains]

I feel bad because I saw your original post and think I recommended peroxide…. I found one that was very encrusted not even readable. I heated my peroxide to just warm on a light bulb in a glass and let it slowly work. Yes it turned it black but the coin was toast. I did not boil the peroxide as people say just warm and slow and tooth picked along the way.
Here is the before and after and why I suggested it on your I,H.
Your coin may have been already pitted under the crust.

 

[mangum]

I've used both peroxide and olive oil methods and both will turn your coin BLACK! Sometimes you're better off leaving it alone, rather than making it worse. If you can see good detail, just use water and a light brushing with a toothbrush. One question though. How do you use a toothpick to clean it? You would have to let is soak for a long time to be able to remove it with a toothpick. It seems tedious. Just curious.

I do not soak the coin, I toothpick it dry. The crud comes right off. It does take some time but the result is great.

 

[Iron Patch]

You said it all in this statement... " I hate that I lost the green patina."


The coin had a green patina, so you did the whole peroxide thing on a coin that was pitted, but had very little corrosion to be cleaned, so the only possibility for the outcome would be the same, or worse. I have never used heated peroxide and I have no idea why anyone would. Either it bubbles more and people just think it works better, or it does give a stronger reaction and what is the rush? Cleaning is only effective if you make the right choice, and in this case leaving alone was the right choice. I'm a little surprised, actually a lot surprised it got eaten that bad, and I have to wonder if that is a result from it being heated because I have never seen anything close to that and I have cleaned min 2-3 thousand coins with peroxide, often just dumping in any condition and not worrying too much about it. So I see two mistakes here... 1) Cleaning it in the first place. And 2) Heating the peroxide.

 

[civil_war22]

IP I also did the heated peroxide on an old V nickel and came out with similar nasty results. I think the heat breaks down something in the coins!

 

[Iron Patch]

IP I also did the heated peroxide on an old V nickel and came out with similar nasty results. I think the heat breaks down something in the coins!

As I said I have a ton of experience with peroxide and have never seen anything like that, so I tend to agree with you. What I see is an electrolysis type result, not hp.

 

[horsesterry]

The peroxide method destroyed my only IH. I'm so bummed.

 

[smokeythecat]

I had said "crud" sticking to a 1729 George I copper. I let is sit overnight in mineral oil, then took my fingernail and most of the crud came right off. Coin was in good shape underneath. Peroxide on my buffalo ate it up. Of course, it was toast to begin with.

 

[SuchMuch]

I never clean coins. I treat bronze disease if any and conservate them. Later they could be cleaned mechanically under microscope.

No to chemicals, yes to mechanical cleaning

 

[SorenCoins]

Still great find! I wouldnt call that ruined!!!

-SC