Vinegar/Salt solution for nickels

[BobinSouthVA]

Just had a few questions about this cleaning method for nickels. (aware of the don't clean rule )

What are the measurements for Salt and Vinegar? I tried this method once and the nickel could barely be identified. Looked like it had been scoured badly.

Will Apple Vinegar work too or must it be White Distilled Vinegar?

Thanks in advance. I have a liberty head nickel (common) that's very bad and was hoping to clean it up for my own display purposes.

 

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[BuckleBoy]

I've only tried white vinegar and enough salt to get it working...but I think the secret is rubbing some baking soda into the face of the coin with your fingers afterwards to stop the reaction. Only leave it in the salt/vinegar mix until it turns grey.

Regards,


Buckleboy

 

[BobinSouthVA]

Thanks for the advice. Tried it and added salt slowly until I could see it working. Did not take very long.

Results

 

[BuckleBoy]

Thanks for the advice.  Tried it and added salt slowly until I could see it working.  Did not take very long.

Results

No problem.  It seems to help the color of dug nickels a great deal...looks like it doesn't help the corrosion much.  Foxhound had some good luck with this method on a Buffalo he dug a few weeks ago.  "After" photo is part of the way down on the post:

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,122423.msg894510.html#msg894510

Regards,


Buckleboy

P.S.--a little more baking soda and a drop of water to make a paste and then rubbed into the coin with your fingers might help bust a little more of the corrosion off.  I believe the baking soda step probably has two purposes--first to stop the reaction and second to polish the coin a bit.