FOUND COINS?

Rusty4768

if coins are found with a metal detector, they are often in poor shape. What is the best way to clean them, if they should be cleaned at all? We're talking about invaluable coins here.

coinnut86

I'm not certain, but I heard rock tumbler with crushed pecan shells

coinnut86

double post

pocketpiececommems

I use a rock tumbler with sand, water and a bit of dish soap. It does the trick. You won't believe the results!!

DesertRat

A four inch grinder with a stiff wire wheel on it running about 3,000 RPM.

oh wait that's for cleaning welds.


The tumbler is popular as well as the electrolysis method mentioned in other threads.

lordmarcovan

Really, it depends on what the coins are made of and how bad the environmental damage (corrosion, etc) is.

For copper and nickel, I use a variety of techniques.

For common silver coins, I find toothpaste and/or baking soda to work pretty well. Electrolysis is also good for silver coins, usually.

Gold coins, fortunately, do well in the ground. Not that I would know- I have yet to dig my first gold coin.