Coin cleaning help
Puppylovin
Posts: 6 ✭
What is the best way to clean an old penny without causing damage to the coin? 1906 Indian head penny.
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Never, ever clean a coin. Ever.
Simple. Don't.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
@coin22lover @TomB
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
Why does it need cleaning? Can we get a pic?
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
So, if a copper coin has active PVC, the PVC should not be cleaned off of the coin with a quick dip in acetone?
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I think of PVC removal more as decontamination than cleaning.
In any case, I am pretty sure a new poster asking about "cleaning" wasn't referring to that.
Agreed - but I'd also add that you should be very careful on using acetone on circulated coins. You never know what you might uncover.
Like what? Reality?
You'd prefer to keep obfuscating organic crap on your coins?
@Puppylovin The above decon reveal is true but pvc is relentless. Lesser of two evils. Good luck. Show us pics of your cent.
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Good luck.
Pictures attached for reference, what is PVC decontamination vs cleaning? Maybe there is nothing I can do for this one
Well played. It's corroded, not cleanable anyway.
Water.
okay, you can clean it, leave it in vinegar overnight and send us pics in the morning
To add a little more detail... Vinegar is a type of acid. When you put a coin in acid, you will damage that coin and lose all numismatic value that it originally.
However, in your case your pics show a coin that is horribly corroded already. It has no value. It is not possible for it to lose value when it has no value to start with. So, sure, give it a shot with vinegar. Steel wool would be another choice. Whatever you choose, this coin will never have value. It is beyond help, sorry.
Another choice that is vinegar based is ketchup, I find that the little Whataburger packets are best. Strips everything away and leaves a nice bright pink tone.
(vinegar is one of the main ingredients in ketchup)
They could be talking about surface dirt. There are safe ways to remove that as well.
It is important to give appropriate warnings. But I'm not sure that saying "never" is appropriate.
It's far beyond any ability to conserve it. In general cents are the hardest to conserve, made of metals that are the most reactive to the environmental conditions.
Horrible. Some day someone else will find this thread and not know that you are kidding.
To the OP. That coin is beyond cleaning but could be used to experiment. Aqueous acids, like vinegar, will ruin any copper coin to which you apply it.
oh you're no fun, I think I see a doubled die under all that crust