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A noted author's views on cleaning coins
satootoko
Posts: 2,720
Ever hear of Spadone numbers for oriental coins? The term comes from the Catalog of Modern Japanese Korean Manchukuo Coins, published in 1960 by J.G.Spadone, in which he assigned numbers to individual coin designs from those areas.
I thought forum members might profit from some expert advice quoted from pages 9-10 of his delightful little tome:
CLEANING COINS: New coins should not be cleaned as they will lose their original mint lustre. Circulated coins should be cleaned periodically like a gun, for preservation, attractive display and individual value. (He was a military man, after all.
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COPPER COINS may be cleaned with liquid metal polish. If one coin is cleaned, all should be cleaned for uniformity of color.
SILVER COINS are best cleaned with baking soda and water. Add water until a paste is formed. Rub the coin with the paste, then dry with a soft cotton cloth. Continue this process until the coin is clean.
The last hope for a bad coin is a brass wire suede shoe brush to remove the difficult dirt. This may not scratch the coin noticeably if brushed fast enough.
(Apologies for the duplication to those who have seen this posted elsewhere, but I feel that in the best interests of the hobby Spadone's words should get the widest possible circulation. )
I thought forum members might profit from some expert advice quoted from pages 9-10 of his delightful little tome:
CLEANING COINS: New coins should not be cleaned as they will lose their original mint lustre. Circulated coins should be cleaned periodically like a gun, for preservation, attractive display and individual value. (He was a military man, after all.
)COPPER COINS may be cleaned with liquid metal polish. If one coin is cleaned, all should be cleaned for uniformity of color.
SILVER COINS are best cleaned with baking soda and water. Add water until a paste is formed. Rub the coin with the paste, then dry with a soft cotton cloth. Continue this process until the coin is clean.
The last hope for a bad coin is a brass wire suede shoe brush to remove the difficult dirt. This may not scratch the coin noticeably if brushed fast enough.
(Apologies for the duplication to those who have seen this posted elsewhere, but I feel that in the best interests of the hobby Spadone's words should get the widest possible circulation. )
Roy
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09/07/2006
I still find that a bit of jewelers' rouge and a Dremel tool do a great job.
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<< <i>I hope that that is a joke, and not real advice.
Spadone was seriously serious.
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<< <i>In his recent book on Coin Chemistry, Weimer White also recommends the baking soda paste cleaning method. If I remember correctly he even recommends it for PROOF coins. That's crazy!! >>
OMG!!!! I'm certainly glad the Spadone crowd was concentrating on Oriental and not British.....then again, I've seen some British that made my hair curl, and I shave my heid......
Victoria is so happy to have escaped that torture......