How to clean coins???

RPM2 · July 4, 2013 2:07PM

Here we go with the hot topic!!!

I have a friend that has bucks of coins that have been in water (wishing well) for some time. He is wanting to clean the coins so he can turn them in to the bank. I suggested a tumbler with walnut shells. Any other suggestions. He has several 5 gal bucks to do.

Thanks

coin22lover · July 4, 2013 2:09PM

... What?!

RPM2 · July 4, 2013 2:19PM

The guy has had bucks of coins donated to him from company that has a large (really large) fish tank in there store. It has had coins thrown in it for about 10yrs. They decided to clean the fish tank and remove the coins. The company donated all the coins to a local school for there ball team. The kids have separated all the small gravels from the coins. The coins have corrosion build up on them that needs to be removed before they can redeem them for cash at a bank. Is that clear enough.

For those who don't understand the walnut shell and tumbler idea. It is used to lightly clean metal parts. This method is used to recondition brass cartridges when reloading bullets for guns.

coin22lover · July 4, 2013 2:21PM

Are the coins unidentifiable? I'm not aware of any legal requirement to clean your coins before redeeming them.

Meltdown · July 4, 2013 2:23PM

If they're all clad, I suppose you can just go for it... soap & hot water would probably make a decent start. Acetone wil remove crud and light corrsion without damaging the surfaces.

It's kind of a cardinal sin around here to "clean" original surfaced early silver coinage, that's why your question sounded a little scary.

derryb · July 4, 2013 2:37PM

be aware of the safety precautions before handling acetone. you might try depositing them in a local coinstar, then you would only have to worry about cleaning those rejected by the machine.

RPM2 · July 4, 2013 2:52PM

Good thought derryb!!

I will pass that idea to him.

I know thought about cleaning coins. I have been a collectordealer for for some time.

Thought I would get some input and have some fun with the question. I would not think anything other than clad and copper (zinc) cents would be in the bucks. The store as only been open less than 10yrs.

BAJJERFAN · July 4, 2013 2:55PM

Perhaps you could post some pictures of the coins. The coins are likely to have algae and mineral buildup on them. I'd try vinegar first to see if that removes anything. If it does then it might be more economical to buy glacial acetic acid [you can get 5 gal carboys thru eBay] and make your own. The tumbler is more suitable to stuff that is lightly soiled. Also walnut shells aren't real cheap [corn cob medium would be preferred]. Try the vinegar, rinse well and dry. You can always do a quick tumble if needed. Dilute sulfuric acid is also a possibility.

numisma · July 4, 2013 3:05PM

Fish tank? Lots of coins? Did all of the fish die? Yikes!

If you have a tumbler, then that is the best method. Why waste the time and expose yourself to the risks of using acetone for corroded pocket change? Put the coins in a tumbler with walnut shells and walk away for a short spell. Then take the coins to the bank.

jmcu12 · July 4, 2013 9:39PM

Have fun with your 'bucks' of coins.

DorkGirl · July 4, 2013 9:50PM

Banks don't like rusty coins, so the tumbler sounds like a good idea.

410a · July 4, 2013 10:26PM

I have metal detected and found multiple amounts of clad coins in various stages of deterioration. Believe me nothing is as bad as grass chemicals and rain on a clad quarter. The banks i have gone to just take them without a problem. I have even turned in a bent one or two. Interesting the coins from the late 60s and thru the 70s hold up so much better than a few years old states quarter.

MsMorrisine · July 4, 2013 11:04PM

by coincidence, recently, one local coinstar machine was jammed by corroded cents.

I wouldn't just dump them without checking that they aren't fused together.

so far, the tumbler idea works, or just roll them.

PS have they been checked for silver coins yet?

LindeDad · July 5, 2013 12:53AM

If there are a lot of buckets of coins a cement mixer and a couple of shovels of fine sand will do the trick. Run for an hour or so then pour out over a sieve made of 1/4 inch chicken wire back into the buckets then off to the machine at the bank.
Be sure and check the reject slot every so often for the silver as you shove it in.

windwhispersintrees · July 5, 2013 1:33AM

Yup, rock tumbler with some sand. Used to do it all the time for my metal detecting coin finds (the non-collector ones).
Yes, the cement mixer will probably work for a super large volume of coins.

RPM2 · July 5, 2013 7:06AM

Thanks for the input. I will pass it along to him. I will let you know the results. I will try to get pics.

Constantine · July 5, 2013 10:37AM

Seems like it would be a lot of work and perhaps unnecessary. I'd take a sampling to a Coinstar machine and see if it took them. That would be the easiest and I'd guess the Coinstar fee would be comparable to the time and any cost associated to cleaning them.

3keepSECRETif2rDEAD · July 5, 2013 11:06AM

<< <i>Banks don't like rusty coins >>

Too bad.

Erik

Constantine · July 6, 2013 10:21AM

<< <i>Thanks for the input. I will pass it along to him. I will let you know the results. I will try to get pics. >>

Thanks, keep us updated! I find it interesting.

TwoSides2aCoin · July 6, 2013 2:26PM

What Bajjerfan said : white distilled vinegar / acetic acid
...as a single guy who burns enough food trying to cook, I can vouch for how well it cleans the pans

PerryHall · July 6, 2013 8:05PM

<< <i>Seems like it would be a lot of work and perhaps unnecessary. I'd take a sampling to a Coinstar machine and see if it took them. That would be the easiest and I'd guess the Coinstar fee would be comparable to the time and any cost associated to cleaning them. >>

My thought exactly. Some grocery stores have Coinstar machines where you get full value if you spend the money at that store. Of course this may or may not be practical depending on how many coins he has.

How to clean coins???

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