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Coins - To Clean or not To Clean

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To Clean Or Not To Clean

 

All these coins the music of which greets ears of collectors need occasional cleaning. And this is not as easy as it looks. A coin collector hardly ever allows third parties to clean the coins, even for money. This is the treasure bought for fortune, for inspiration, for delight to warm the heart even if they have no face value to profit.

If the coins require cleaning, be careful not to remove the patina that is formed on the coin with the time being due to reaction of oxides, carbon, salts and acids. This is like a natural preservation for the coin and for most collectors patina is the evidence of the coin authentication. Be careful with that. The aim is to clean. And you can drop the value of your coins with your own hands, instead if you do wrongly.

 

General rules of cleaning

 

To start with, the collectors should think of the need for cleaning. That’s not a secret that old unpolished coins with patina are highly appreciated and estimated whereas the amateur polishing may cause the coin lose its value at all. Nevertheless, cheaper coins can be best try before you get your treasures to some soap and shower things. On the top of it, the cleaning methods depend on the metal and stains on coins.

 

Soap for coins

This is believed to be the safest and easiest way to get rid of dirt. Soap has no aggressive impact on the coin metal cleansing the dirt, grease and other contaminations. It is also good for polished coins of proof condition since our finger pads are the softest things to do soapy cleaning. Kid soap is the best choice for coins. Alternatively, coins can be soaked in soapy water for several hours to avoid any mechanical effect. It is good for gold ones.

 

Soap slush

If your coins are still stained you’d better use another try. Take a soap, peel it into a pot with hot water to get a soapy slush. Add some sodium carbonate and mix well. As the slush is cooled, place your dirty coins into the pot and leave for a few hours. Check if they get cleaned or not, from time to time. This technique also fits gold coins.

 

Toothpaste powder

When the soap adventure fails, toothpaste might help. Try to choose the one without abrasives not to defect your coins. Get a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid extra scratches to your coin. Toothpaste brushing fits cheaper circulated coins like copper and bronze coins.

 

Non-aggressive chemicals

Most collectors use products from Soft Cleanser series or MetalCleaner products though they all have abrasivesin the formulation. The point is these abrasives are far softer than those in chemicals for kitchen and bathroom ware cleaning. Special products are available that are less aggressive though they might leave some scratches on coins or reveal those hidden under stains.

 

Ammonia

Neither soap nor chemicals can remove copper oxides on coins and thus, the collectors often go to get some ammonia (5 to 15%) at the drugstore and use it. The ammonia smells and you should be rather careful when pouring it into a pot to clean coins; so, this is number one cons for the ammonia. The second drawback which is rather critical for coin holders is that the coin inserted in the ammonia should not be removed while cleansed. The coin surface treated with ammonia might spoil when reacts with oxygen. When the coin is clean enough, you add more and more water to the ammonia solution until its content is extremely minor. And only then the coin may be removed and dried. Good for silver coins.

Now you have your coins cleaned and dried and they all get their seats to warm your heart even stronger if you do everything correctly.

 

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