Quite often, rusty coins fall into the hands of collectors. It's not even exactly rust, but rather a layer of oxides, which is no less dangerous for the coin. Of course, you need to get rid of it. But if an experienced numismatist knows how to handle such coins, then a novice collector has yet to acquire this skill. And it is better to learn how to clean coins of high quality not by trial and error, but by reading the information voiced and written by knowledgeable people. Here are some tips.
Instructions
Step 1
Gold coins practically do not need to be cleaned as they are not rusty. If the coin gets dirty, just wash it in warm soapy water and dry well by placing it between two soft cloths. Avoid rubbing. Even a soft cloth can damage the coating of the coin when rubbing off rust and dirt. More precisely, the coating will damage the dust.
Step 2
Silver coins are more difficult. It all depends on the oxidation state and metal sample. High-grade silver, which has been lying in the ground for a long time, is covered with a dense and hard layer of oxides. You can get rid of oxides by putting a coin in ammonia (10% ammonia to 90% water). No ammonia? Place the patient in a 30% baking soda solution. After a few hours of soaking in one solution or another, the coin will be freed from the oxide layer. The process can be accelerated by heating the solution to a boil and periodically cleaning the oxidized areas with a soft toothbrush.
Step 3
If a fine silver coin has a slight coating of oxides, clean it with a gruel of toothpaste, baking soda and ammonia. Stir this gruel until the lumps disappear.
Step 4
Low-grade silver alloys turn green when oxidized. They can be cleaned with a 10% solution of Trilon B. After getting rid of the greens, treat the coin with the gruel mentioned above.
Step 5
Over time, a patina appears on copper coins, which can have brown, green, black colors and their shades. If the patina layer is even and no traces of corrosion are visible, the patina does not need to be removed. On the contrary, it will protect the coin from harmful external influences.
Step 6
Oxidized copper coins are cleaned with slow-acting reagents such as Trilon B. The thicker the oxide layer, the longer the coin must be kept in the reagent.
Step 7
Bronze coins are treated in the same way as copper ones. True, you need to remember that the color of bronze changes from ammonia and trilon. It may darken to brown or even black. You can restore the shine of a coin by washing it in warm water and toothpaste.
