Bathing Coins

Rhubarb · Senior Member

Bob P will Easy Off "Bam" do the same as Goo Gone?

Rhubarb

eagames · Expert Member

There's so many things out there, my advice is try anything but be sure you test it on something that you don't care about in case it has a bad outcome before using coins you care about.

For a boiler I've had good luck using any big pot of water and putting a smaller corelle bowl in it but probably any ceramic bowl that doesn't crack would work. I don't do it to bulk batches, I do the ones that need it most.

For coins with goo on the motto or MM I boil em to loosen the goo then use a soggy thorn or toothpick sparingly on the worst areas to get stubborn junk off.

Green stuff comes in several types, some comes off easy but some coins already have corrosion under the green so even if you get the stuff off the coin is corroded. On those it's best to stop once you see real corrosion into the surface because it can not be fixed.

See if Bob knows about BAM.?? I never tried it.

Bob P · Site Admin

Rhubarb...
Both Easy-Off and BAM have chemicals in them that will turn your coins pink. Please do not use them. The ONLY thing I have found as far as cleaners go that will not harm the patina is the Goo Gone.
Now for NEW coins, that may have a film or haze over them, I have found that a very diluted solution of 'Kaboom' bath & tile cleaner will get rid of it. It will make the coin very shiny (pretty much like brand new 2006 coins out of the roll). I also found that the cartwheel affect and luster still remain. A warning here is that the bath must be a quick dip and cold water rinse immediately afterward. Should you not rinse and blot dry, the coins color will change after a few days. Also, should this bath come in contact with carbon spots and dirt, those areas will turn pink as well.
This solution can only be used to clean light hazes and films off new coins. It is possible to tell that the coin was cleaned under high magnification, so I wouldn't recommend it. I mainly use the solution if there is something in the way of me seeing it clearly, and I also know that the coin will not be sold as original luster.

Rhubarb · Senior Member

WOW !!!! I never knew this stuff, coin's changing color's. Thank's for all the Post's. I need to know this stuff before I mess a bunch of coin's up.

Rhubarb

Rhubarb · Senior Member

I work 12 hr. shift's so I will buy some "Goo Gone" this week. I hope to have more RPM's to post. Thank's to everyone for there help.

Rhubarb

garylcsr · Veteran Member

Bob i tryed that toothbrush on my coins and man the next mornning my mouth tasted realy bad so dont do that lol
Gary Twisted Evil

Dick · Expert Member

Bob, I just remembered something we used to use for cleaning the carburators. Wonder if it would work???? DO NOT TRY~!!!!! I'm just pulling youir leg!
Dick

Bob P · Site Admin

Gary..Good thing you only used the toothbrush and didn't gargle with the stuff Laughing

Dick...Carburetor and brake cleaners are two chemicals I haven't tried yet Exclamation

Maybe it's not a good idea huh??

Dick · Expert Member

Bob, it's nice to see we finally agree on one thing!

Dick

Rhubarb · Senior Member

Ok, now that my wife think's I have flipped, threatned to have me committed, the coin's I used turned a black color. I boiled them for 10 minutes using 1 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda(arm and hammer). Any suggestions?

Rhubarb

Dick · Expert Member

I hope they were some that were worthy of "testo-testo"! I had the same thing happen, so what I, (we) did, must have been wrong. They were clean, tho! I would ask CHUCK, again.
Dick

garylcsr · Veteran Member

Rhubarb how long did you let the pot boil? i have done the same thing using junkies to test with and they turned black so i added more soda and let it boil till the water turned greenish color and they came out ok seeable if that is a word. i also tried it with a 1943 cent that was not worn out but was turning a blackish color and it turned it coal black so don't do it with your steal coins lol.
Gary

Dick · Expert Member

OR SILVER!!!!! Ask Cathy!
Dick

garylcsr · Veteran Member

Cathy do you got pic's lol
Gary

Rhubarb · Senior Member

Gary, I let the water boil 5 minute's with the baking soda in. then inserted the coins in a colender. I then set a timer for 10 minute's. Oh well, maybe I should take your suggestion and reboil the coin's with more soda.

Goo Gone is the way to go cleaning coin's. They soaked for 5 minutes, the majority of the green stuff was gone except around the letter's and number's.

Rhubarb