coin cleaner?

[kyhunter06]

I have recently found an 1831 large cent. I have got a lot of gunk off of it but there are some that look like there on there pretty good. Any Ideas on a cleaner or idea.

 

[Marko]

For value reasons I would not attemp to clean it. The most I would do is soak it in olive oil (for up to a month) and use water, mild soap, and a very soft cloth. I have seen dirty ones on ebay NOT sell for $5, so I doubt it's worth a lot, but bet it was a great find!

 

[capsoda]

An utlrasonic cleaner with a plastic basket and some silver cleaner afterward is the safest way on minted coins. Poured, hammered or hot stamped coins are a different story.

 

[tombstone]

copper coins corrode. if you do manage to clean the gunk off the surface will look like the surface of the moon. leave it be.

 

[bearswede]

copper coins corrode.

Not necessarily true... I've cleaned many Roman coins that were severely encrusted and got them looking like new (of course, this is not the most desireable state... I then re-patina-ed them)... It all depends on soil and burial environment... And the metal mix...

These were cheap coins... Best to use a lot of caution with something with the potential to be rare/valuable... Consult an expert on early American coins...


Ron