New to detecting. Help with how to clean my first old coin.

[Usaflaginmaine]

Hey Friends. Fairly new to metal detecting(2 months) and found this today. My first old coin. How do I clean it?

 

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[gunsil]

You can't really do much about the thick green patina on old coppers without losing detail. If you try to return it to a copper color you will ruin it, better to leave it be. Your find is in pretty nice condition the way it is, enjoy it for what it is. I just use a soft toothbrush with some soapy water to remove the dirt and leave the green stuff alone.

 

[toasted]

Nice find. If I can get an id and better yet a date on an old copper then I consider it a sucess. Yours looks great to me

 

[david680]

Put her in a 2x2 and love her flaws and all forever.

 

[trapperart]

I agree wouldn't do anything you will loose detail

 

[DigToChina]

I don't have a link but I remember watching a great video by a guy called Aquachigger about what to do with old coins. Maybe Google it. Basically, use a tooth pick and oil from your face to raise details but the video was good because he purposely messed up a couple using soap and water etc to contrast the different things you could do.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Nice job on the 2-cent piece. IMHO, I would leave it alone and be proud of that beautiful coin.

 

[port ewen ace]

nice 2C practice cleaning toasted wheats with baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, electrolysis, olive oil, and other methods. some work better than others, and results vary on how bad a copper is. surface pitting will always be under the green verdigris--what is acceptable is always a judgement call. I have gotten dates & details off heavily crusted copper blobs of green.

 

[Wildcat1750]

Nice 2 Cent piece - Great way to get started with detecting!
Good advice given so far. You can't go wrong with doing nothing and you can't undo a bad cleaning job.
Welcome to TreasureNet!

 

[Usaflaginmaine]

Thanks guys. Guess I'll leave it be :-)

 

[$stinger]

I've got 2 that are in the same condition. I wouldn't try anything but water. Nice find!

 

[Trezurehunter]

I just use water on mine to clean them, then soak them in olive oil for a week. It will not get the green crusty off but it does bring out detail and a sheen to the parts of the coin that are not crusty. I also use this method with Indian Heads, Large Cents, and copper tokens. It works well for me.

 

[JeffInMass]

Nice find! I'm inclined to agree with the advice given- mine get an olive oil bath and that's it- too much cleaning and the detail's gone- you can't undo gone! GL!

-- Jeff --

 

[deershed]

Good find!!
She looks Great just how she is, I wouldn't touch it. Some times a little cleaning helps, other times it destroys your coin.

 

[Joe hunter]

If you just want a date vinegar will take off the green but uglys the coin on the right Is a possible end result of a toothbrush and soap (I still use soap and toothbrush but with great care I can't live without getting a date of a coinit did help me date the foundation but destroyed both Indians

 

[Ahab8]

Hello my fellow Mainer. I would use a bit of nose grease to wipe across the face. It will highlight the details for a great pic. Nothing wrong with that condition at al. Congrats

 

[Gridwalker306]

Hello my fellow Mainer. I would use a bit of nose grease to wipe across the face. It will highlight the details for a great pic. Nothing wrong with that condition at al. Congrats

That's exactly what I was going to say. I do that all the time on coins and relics like buttons. Works wonders and doesn't cause irreversible damage.

 

[Usaflaginmaine]

Hello my fellow Mainer. I would use a bit of nose grease to wipe across the face. It will highlight the details for a great pic. Nothing wrong with that condition at al. Congrats

Plenty of nose grease starting this time of year.

 

[Loco-Digger]

I have a head mounted magnifier that I use in the winter (when the grounds frozen) along with some tooth picks and I simply pick out the dirt from the crevasses on the coins I dug that year.

 

[A2coins]

Most coins lose value due to environmental damage you could see what the coins value is and then determine if you want to shine it up ect!!!!Great display case coin either way!!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!!!!