Another "Cleaning Coins" Question This is a real dilemma for a large group of people!

CCDAMEEK

OK, I have read through a bunch of discussions about cleaning coins or not cleaning coins. I fully get the gist that coin collectors do not want cleaned coins as a rule.

Here is where this question parts from most other discussions.

I am not a coin collector, but an avid metal detectorist. And I find BUNCHES of coins. Here-in lies the problem. Unless the coin is gold or silver, and even silver coins at times, when you pull that beautiful round disc out of the dirt it has been in for however many years it has been in there, for the most part you can't even tell what type of coin you have just found, let alone be able to find out a year and condition.

So we HAVE to clean them just to find out what it is. By luck, I haven't pulled up a really valuable coin and then ruined it prior to knowing what it is. When you dig up anywhere from 5 to 95 coins in one outing, 90% of them you can't tell what year they are.

I have pulled up nice old coins, my oldest being an 1802 U.S. Large cent. It looked like a copper electrical blank! There was NO distinguishable features that it was a coin.

What is a detectorist to do, to not ruin a valuable coin, but still be able to determine exactly what it is?

This is a real dilemma for us detectorists, and I am truly looking for insight from the coin collecting world.

Thanks for any replies,

Namvet69

Some larges I soak in mineral oil to loosen dirt then a distilled water dip.. Others I dip in acetone and qtip pat. The worn one's, I'm looking for the hairstyle elements for a type clue. Measuring and weight helps as well. The wear of commerce is just the nature of the beast. Peace Roy

ricko

A hot water rinse (no abrasion) will usually remove the bulk of the crud..... then an acetone soak will remove any further organic material (keep covered, acetone evaporates quickly). After that, a pure alcohol rinse, followed by hot running water, should leave you with a coin in the best condition it will be. Sure, there are other tricks, but they get complex, so best to stick with the method I described for now. Cheers, RickO

JBK

Yes, you so have a real dilemma, or maybe even a conundrum.

Best to carefully consider the advice give above.

You don't want to ruin the value of a coin just to identify what it is. Of course, almost all of the coins you will dig up will already be impaired. Only a real rarity will have be of any real value.

Moxie15

First...
Which is more valuable, an unidentifiable disk or a cleaned 1793 chain cent?
Second...
almost all ancient coins are hoard finds, ie found in the ground and cleaned.

It is more important how the found coins are cleaned than that they are cleaned in such situations.

You may wish to ask this question in the ancients forum as the participants are quite knowledgeable the how what when and whys that you are looking for.

thisistheshow

It all comes down to not being abrasive. Removal vs contusion (I made that up, but I think it makes "cents")

jmlanzaf

@Moxie15 said:
First...
Which is more valuable, an unidentifiable disk or a cleaned 1793 chain cent?
Second...
almost all ancient coins are hoard finds, ie found in the ground and cleaned.

It is more important how the found coins are cleaned than that they are cleaned in such situations.

You may wish to ask this question in the ancients forum as the participants are quite knowledgeable the how what when and whys that you are looking for.

THIS!

"curating" coins is not the same as "cleaning" coins.