Olive Oil How-to

jmcu12

Hello all!

I have been soaking two lincoln coppers for about a month.

1. 1931-S - very dirty with minimal to no corrosion - It is coming along nicely and you can now see the date without having to strain your eyes.
2. 19xx (I think it might be a 14 something) has heavy corrosion and has improved only slightly after soaking for the same amount of time.

Have I soaked these coins long enough, i.e. will soaking them any longer be of any benefit?

And assuming that they have soaked long enough what is the best way to remove the remaining dirt, as in the 31 s and the corrosion on the 14?


Thanks for any advice!

basestealer

Copper coins can sometimes take weeks or months (even longer) of soaking in olive oil to achieve the desired results. A better alternative to olive oil is grape oil, if you can find it. That stuff really does work. If there is dirt in the devices you can usually loosen it with a non-abrasive toothbrush.

Another method, more controversial, and possibly harmful to your coins if you intend to have them slabbed, is to clean the coins with MS70. Once removed from the MS70 soak, nuetralize the coin with baking soda and water. At this point, lightly coat the coin with Blue Ribbon coin cleaner, and let it dry. If the coin has become too light, you can then darken it with Dellar's Darkener.

ricko

The doctor is in... seriously, thanks for the information Basestealer... Cheers, RickO

FlyingEagle

<< <i>Another method, more controversial, and possibly harmful to your coins if you intend to have them slabbed, is to clean the coins with MS70. Once removed from the MS70 soak, nuetralize the coin with baking soda and water. At this point, lightly coat the coin with Blue Ribbon coin cleaner, and let it dry. If the coin has become too light, you can then darken it with Dellar's Darkener. >>



Do not soak a copper coin in MS70 solution. It is not intended for soaking.

Sotty

Circulated copper? Soak in white vinegar, then let retone.

tsacch

Whats so bad about MS70? i have used for nickles and silver plenty of times with no problems.....no good for copper? Never tried it.

jobiwan115

What about using the olive oil soak on silver?

I have been soaking 4 buffalo nickels and 1 jeff for about 10 days now, and don't see any difference yet. I've heard many different thoughts on how long you should soak them - what do you all think?

basestealer

<< <i>What about using the olive oil soak on silver?

I have been soaking 4 buffalo nickels and 1 jeff for about 10 days now, and don't see any difference yet. I've heard many different thoughts on how long you should soak them - what do you all think? >>


Olive oil penetrates and loosens dirt. You can soak them for months and some people I know have soaked for a year or more. But it won't remove toning--what are you trying to remove?

oreville

Mineral oil is better and safer than olive oil. It does not turn rancid and is less likely to make the copper coin too dark.

jobiwan115

2 of the buffs have crud all around the Indian head; on the one it's really black, on the other it's a light brown, kinda like mud. The other 2 are just, I don't know, grimy. I wish I could post pics of them, but that's a whole 'nother story - I'm trying to learn how to take good coin pics, but getting nowhere. That'll be a new post from me, soon.

The jeff is kind of dark - dang it! Wish I could describe these better, sorry.

With what oreville mentioned, mebbe I should switch the jeff to mineral oil??

jmcu12

<< <i>what are you trying to remove? >>



On the 13-S I am trying to remove dirt and maybe some light corrosion - if there is such a thing as light corrosion.

On the 14? I am trying to remove much heavier corriosion and very light dirt.

I dont have much hope for the 14X but the 31S is looking much better.

Swampboy

What would you use to rinse copper coins that have been soaking in olive oil?

Water? Acetone?


edit to say I found an old post where Conder101 recommended acetone.
So that's what I'll do next.
I had a feww old wheaties that looked 'dusty' so I soaked them for a few days in olive oil and now they look 'slick'.

bigmansam88

<< <i>

<< <i>what are you trying to remove? >>



On the 13-S I am trying to remove dirt and maybe some light corrosion - if there is such a thing as light corrosion.

On the 14? I am trying to remove much heavier corriosion and very light dirt.

I dont have much hope for the 14X but the 31S is looking much better. >>



There is no way to remove corrosion. What's done is done as far as that goes.

The oil will loosen the dirt, and may take a pretty long time until you see results.

intocoins

The best method i have found for severly cruded coins or metal detecting finds is peroxide 3% in the microwave or vaseline with a q-tip. I only use these methods in a last ditch attempt to improve a coin when traditional methods like acetone do not work.

Broadstruck

intocoins, are you heating the peroxide in the microwave... or actually cooking metal coins?

intocoins

Heating the 3% peroxide in the microwave for about 20 seconds or so then taking it out and placing the coin in the glass. A reaction will take place that loosens most of the crud. after the bubbles stop, which can take up to an hour or so, I take a q-tip and gently go over the surface. Most , if not all the crud comes off. I only use this method with coins that simply have no other alternative. I will try to post a before and after pic.


Here's a coin that i had soaking in mineral oil for 4 or so months with no change.
Here's after 3% peroxide.


Before the treatment you could barely see the beeding on the border and the flower was covered by crud. While it is evident the coin has been tampered with, I still think it is in a more desirable collector state.

mheffner2

This thread just reminded me I have a couple dozen teens Wheaties in baby food jars in grape seed oil in the basement.... since August

Raybo

Pre soak



Post soak



I'm not sure if the camera settings were the same..............I might of went overboard.


Ray

AskRaq

<< <i>This thread just reminded me I have a couple dozen teens Wheaties in baby food jars in grape seed oil in the basement.... since August >>




I've got about 60 cruddy old indian head cents that have been soaking in mineral oil for.... oh, 'bout 11 months now........... oil is still clean, they still look the same.

Raybo

Funny how this happens, i'm looking at my pre and post images..............pre always looks better, schmutz or not.

Ray

TwoSides2aCoin

TwoSides2aCoin

Screw the spinach, let's have a drink.