Bathing Coins

eagames · Expert Member

Could it be the pot that you used?

Did you have them in an inner ceramic or non metal coated boiler?

Dick · Expert Member

That may be the reason mine came out the wat they did! I still have the majority of them together, but they stand out like a sore thumb, and can be recovered, fast, for the next "bath" I boiled the water, then put in the coins, and then added the Soda. The water was a bit greenish, but maybe I'll do it a bit different. I gotta get some GOO-GONE!!! I did a small batch, and they did come out a lot cleaner, but not much change, so I put in a bigger batch, and loaded it up, then boiled for 10 minutes. You can't hurt CULLS!
LATER: I used a SS pot, with a SS screen. My next batch will be in a whole new world! (After I go to K-Mart. Wal-mart didn't have what I wanted).
Dick

Rhubarb · Senior Member

I used a Stainless Steel colinder with a 1 inch lift on the bottom, set it inside the boiling water.

Does everything have to be SS or just the colinder that holds the coin's? Also I will put the baking soda in just before I put the coins in.

Rhubarb

Dick · Expert Member

David, you, and I have to get the info from Chuck, so we (both), can do it right. I thought I had it right, but I gues, not!
DIck

eagames · Expert Member

I had problems if the coins were in a metal pot. I tried aluminum and stainless and no luck.

Small batches of coins in a corelle dish inside an outer metal pot worked fine.
Other folks used ceramic or porcelain coated metal.

Maybe the trick is do not use metal pots inside.

Dick · Expert Member

ED, that has to be the reason. The metal, with the water, and the soda, have to be corrosive in some form. I used a "metal" strainer, in a "metal" pot. The next, (and maybe the last) batch will be copmpletely different. If so, then I'll try again. Culls aren't worth that much attention.
Dick

garylcsr · Veteran Member

what are you using to stir the pot with? if you have two different kinds of metal and soda together i believe you will get a batteries i don't know how long it takes but try just one pot (mine is alum) and a wooden spoon. but don't use this method on your 1909 SVDB in that case i would prefer it dirty lol. i found that the best i got was when i used my reg alum pot and a wood spoon and probably 2-3 TBS to maybe 2 cups of water and i put the coins in making sure they are not sitting on each other then i let it boil after it is rolling i add the soda (i just dump it in no clue exactly how much it is) then i let it boil till the foam is greenish then i rinse them and blow them dry with my compressor. mine worked for me but i would never do that to a coin i wanted to keep lol
Gary

Dick · Expert Member

Gary, I forgot to mention that I also use a wooden spoon, (one that the wife won't get to use, ever)! I had too many coins to be able to spread them out, so they don't touch each other, like five rolls! The coins I tested are so badly worn, and/or damaged that the only thing that would improve them was a bath, and that worked! They are the cleanest CULLS in town! Some have a black haze on them, others have a peacock coloring, others have a clear, but dark coloring. You name it. I would venture to say that if I knew where these coins had been since leaving the mint, I probably wouldn't be able to discuss it in mixed company! I will say this, they are very slippery. Does that seem to be the "feel" or yours? I rinsed with Dawn dishwashing liquid. "nother BOO-BOO?
Dick.

garylcsr · Veteran Member

i get some very odd colors when i let them boil for awhile. and sometime i do that just to see what colors come out lol. its cool to see the look on the cashiers face when you give her a purple cent lol. as for the slimy i don't have an answer for that i just dry them with compressed air and leave them alone i will have to play with one sometime just to see.lol
good luck
Gary

Rhubarb · Senior Member

I would like to thank "Everyone" that has posted a reply to this thread.

First off I don't won't anyone to think that I clean coin's(or anyone that posted clean's coin's) that it is for personal gain in any way, to cheat, fool or mislead anyone. Bathing coin's is a good way to see the mint mark and the letter's better for Identification.

Thank you again for your support

David

Dick · Expert Member

I still believe that the coins can be "washed", to rid them of the crud, without harming the Patina, and changing the toning that the coins will obtain from the different lubricants, cleaners, etc,(For the blanks and next, the planchets), from the presses, which require lubrication to function, as does all machinery! These things are what make up the "toning" of the coin, in its later stages.
I didn't worry about having the coins piled on top of one another, because Chuck mentioned, If I recall correctly that one shouldn't put more than four, or five rolls at one time. So that part is no problem, due to the boiling water, there is "circulation" in between the coins. The possible case where they should be separated, is to avoid staining from having one on top of another while drying. I obtained a PORCELEAN pot today, and am going to try two things. 1. Cook a small batch, using it, and then,if they come out ok, 2. Gather all the other coins "cooked" before, and rerun them, just to see what will happen. You can't ruin something that is ruined, anyway.
Dick

garylcsr · Veteran Member

let us know how that works for you Dick
Gary

Dick · Expert Member

Gary, If there is a way, I'm stubborn enough to keep at it, until I prove yay, or nay! Yes, I'll keep you informed, (all concerned), as to what it all ends up with. There has to be a way!
Dick

eagames · Expert Member

What Dick said is correct.

You can wash the circ coins and it's not what people call cleaning if you do it right.

Washing can be boiling or using something mild then drying without making rub marks. You can also gently prod crud with something soft that helps it come off. They were circulated, part of being circulated was getting a bath. Those coins can be graded and should not be thought of as cleaned.

Cleaning is doing anything abrasive or chemicals that remove the surface that takes away all or some of the patina or flow lines or leaves abrasive marks. Scrubbing with a brush or eraser or a cloth (other than blotting it on the cloth). Those will get called cleaned, scratched, retoned or artificial color by graders.

In most cases cleaning lowers the value but then if a coin is covered with junk and corroded you have nothing to loose unless it's some exotic coin.

For uncs or proofs there is not much you can do without lowering the value.

Rhubarb · Senior Member

Yes Dick keep us informed. I've had 2 bad experiences with my setup, so my ear's and eyes' are open.

Rhubarb