What can I use to clean up a find?

[xenaskm]

Hi,

I'm new to this wonderful hobby and I dug something up today that is badly corroded and I can't figure out what it is. I'm pretty sure it's a coin but I can't seem to get it cleaned up. I've tried running it under warm water, metal polish, and even carefully chipping away at the gunk. Nothing is working and I don't want to mess with it since I don't really know what I'm doing. My friend even whacked it trying to knock off some gunk and that didn't work either (I also quickly got it away from her!)

Any suggestions for cleaning this thing will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

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[nhbenz]

I'm no expert on cleaning coins, but is there any way you could get us a picture or at least a measurement so we might have an idea what we are dealing with? Some old coins need a good dose of "leave it alone". Welcome to TNet!

 

[xenaskm]

Believe it or not I'm not sure how to post a picture, but it's the same size as a penny. There doesn't appear to be any copper color, I don't think there are any ridges on the edge, so that leaves out a dime. I'll ask my friend to show me how to post a picture.

Thanks!

 

[digmichigan]

As a newbie myself I would also appreciate knowing how others clean their coins. Right now I use only hot water.

 

[doublet2a]

I know I am going to get a lot of negative feedback for this
But it works for me
When I get one that bad, I figure, what can you loose anyway
Keep it like it is , and never know for sure, or get drastic and it usually works
OK ready guys


TARNEX!!,,,

Soak it and check it everyday, and brush it a Little with a tooth brush, or Q-tip
You'll be amazed at the crap it will remove, without hurting the coin

HH TIM

 

[BuckleBoy]

For coppers, I recommend this method:

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,39135.0.html


IF this is a copper coin we're dealing with, you'll get just as much detail as you will by using metal brushes or chemicals like Tarn-X. Plus, if you do happen to have a rarer coin, this method will hurt the value MUCH less! I know a lot of Tnetters use Olive Oil to soak their coppers in. I personally don't like this method, because then the oil slowly leaks out of the coins over time, and it can be a slippery, gross mess. So I would try peroxide first. If that doesn't work, you may want to try something else.

Silver coins...I recommend another method. I never field-clean silver coins anymore--not even Mercs or Roosies. I use a small camel's hair make-up type brush lightly on the coin while at the same time keeping the water running HARD (and the plug in the drain!!). Sometimes I let them soak for a while first if the dirt is dried on them. Then I just coax the dirt off the coin gently under the running water. This is just a habit I got into after noticing the type of damage I was doing to the coins by field cleaning them. I figure if the coin has waited for me patiently underground for a hundred years, the least I can do is give some patience and restraint back. Besides, ya never know when you're gonna find a beauty that has some nice VALUE to it. Here is an example of a coin cleaned using this method. There is a little staining on the coin from the ground (I don't know of ANY method that will do something about that without harming the coin. Oxidized silver coins are a pain!).

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,113377.msg826001.html#msg826001

Regards,


Buckleboy