Cleaning Question

Vasanti

I recently happened upon some old European gold bullion that is really dirty and grimy. I initially tried soaking in acetone for a couple of days and some of it came off, but it's pretty dirty still. As an experiment, I tried to just roll a q-tip soaked in acetone back and forth lightly, and that removed more of the gunk, but it definitely left hairlines. I think this is going to require some sort of a detergent to remove chemically and I don't want to use any mechanical force. I'm also not interested in messing with the patina...I just want to get the black off.

TomB

My advice is don't do it.

If you must, then post quality images on the boards first and ask folks if they have seen what you are seeing. Once you mess with a coin's surface you generally can't go back. If you don't like the coins then sell them before you ruin them and buy coins you like.

ricko

I completely agree with @TomB..... You cannot unring that bell.... Once you affect the surface, it is there to stay. Cheers, RickO

Vasanti

Here is an example. These are AU with a few BU mixed in. They are coated in dirt.

No Headlights

Fine as is in my opinion. Let the next owner wreck them.

TomB

The coins look fine as-is.

coinkat

I will refrain from getting on the soap box... the point has been made

coinbuf

Those coins are fine as is, further use of chemicals is likely to do more harm than good.

Vasanti

Thanks for the advice. I came here to learn from the best and y’all have given me the advice I needed.

Dave99B

Don't clean coins, period

Dave

jmlanzaf

@Vasanti said:

Here is an example. These are AU with a few BU mixed in. They are coated in dirt.

Ultrasonic cleaner. All the abstracts advantages of mechanical cleaning without the hairlines. Make friends with a jeweler.

As others have said, they don't really need it. But, contrary to what others have said, since they are bullion coins, there really no risk of decreasing the value.