Coin Cleaning...Back in the Day

RichR

My grandfather used to "clean" old silver coins (strictly in well circulated grades) using the fine ash from cigars...he'd rub some on his fingers and then work over the coin...and believe it or not, it didn't really scratch the surface too badly and did highlight the remaining line details.

Anyone else ever encounter this old school method?!?

PerryHall

It's still an abrasive cleaning method and it will ruin an original coin. Definately not a good idea.

LanLord

<< <i>My grandfather used to "clean" old silver coins (strictly in well circulated grades) using the fine ash from cigars...he'd rub some on his fingers and then work over the coin...and believe it or not, it didn't really scratch the surface too badly and did highlight the remaining line details.

Anyone else ever encounter this old school method?!? >>

too badly any modifier of badly is bad!

keets

speaking of old school, we got a couple rolls of 1955-D Lincolns the other day in what appeared to be an ordinary paper roll. it was really a homemade roll and the cents were first wrapped in aluminum foil. they were sparkling red gems with no carbon spots.

SUMORADA

speaking of old school, we got a couple rolls of 1955-D Lincolns the other day in what appeared to be an ordinary paper roll. it was really a homemade roll and the cents were first wrapped in aluminum foil. they were sparkling red gems with no carbon spots.

I have had BU silver rolls done with the foil under the paper.....the coins were spectacular.

Edited to add......also 1950's

maibockaddict

Aluminum keeps the oxygen out and away from the coin surfaces. The aluminum will oxidize instead of what is in the aluminum. I use this concept to protect bottles of beer that I want to age. Works great on store bought and home-made brews!

Bcsican

I remember living in So Cal (1961), doing yard work when my dads shovel made a distinct sound, clipping the edge of a very worn 1834 Capped Bust half dollar, I was seven at the time, the nick wasn`t bad, but what I did next trying to clean that dirty old coin will make you shutter...the coin was so dark in color the only thing I wanted to do was make it shine...I scrubbed that coin over and over cleaning it with a soapy brillo pad...not only taking off the dirt but the top few layers of silver as well...back in those days cleaned all my coins that way....with steel wool!!! ouch.....guess that is why today I like my coins blast white.....

keets

i recall once cleaning a Lincoln Cent with a Brillo pad, i think i was 8-9 at the time. it looked really nice when i was done but something inside told me to never do that again, it was a weird feeling then and a weird feeling now recounting the story. i never did that again to this very day.

DieClash

When my wife was a kid she got a Morgan Dollar from her Grandfather. It looked dirty so she took a brilllo-pad to shine it up. We still have it in our collection somewhere.

With respect to the OP, I never heard of cleaning coins with cigar ashes but I have used cigarette ashes to polish a scratched watch crystal. I think I got the idea from my Mother - old school. It worked!

DNADave

This is from an auction site......I wonder if that method would be in this educational pamphlet????

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thisnamztaken

<< <i> I have used cigarette ashes to polish a scratched watch crystal. I think I got the idea from my Mother - old school. It worked! >>



Maybe that will work on scratched coin slabs? Problem is, I don't smoke.

DieClash

<< <i>

<< <i> I have used cigarette ashes to polish a scratched watch crystal. I think I got the idea from my Mother - old school. It worked! >>



Maybe that will work on scratched coin slabs? Problem is, I don't smoke.
>>



Try Brasso, it works too and you don't need to smoke! I think if you check around some coin supply shops they may sell a commercial polish for plastic, but I think Brasso is probably the least costly way to go.

tombr

Back in the 1980's there was coin shop in Glen Burnie MD. I used to go there and hang out about every other Saturday. The owner used to take "dirty" Morgan and Peace Dollars and put them is some sort of tumbler with soapy water to clean them. He'd dry them off with a towel. He didn't do it with key dates, just the run of the mill common dates.

LindeDad

<< <i>Try Brasso, it works too and you don't need to smoke! I think if you check around some coin supply shops they may sell a commercial polish for plastic, but I think Brasso is probably the least costly way to go. >>



Go to the nearest auto supply store and get "Meguiar's PlastX" for the slabs less than $8.00 and works great on the plastic of slabs.