Dirty coins

[BART]

While on one of my ebay quests I bought some 1930's and 1940's German coins, well they got here today from Germany and they are filthy. I was just about to drop them in a tub of CLR when my wife stopped me and said that might not be such a great idea. I did a google search but like everything else there are 4.6 trillion different answers so I was wondering if any of you had any experience with coins and knew of a good way to clean them up. I realize that clean coins are not nearly as valuable but I bought them for me, not as an investment.

[mr.hotrod]

peroxide peroxide peroxide PEROXIDE!!! I collect coins and use peroxide on them just kind of watch them if they are really corroded.

[jimmythekid1]

I was told once buy a collector not to ever clean them or maybe that was polish them?

[TheB1GDude]

Boil them then polish with brasso!

[BART]

Originally Posted by TheB1GDude

Boil them then polish with brasso!

I can understand the boil part, brasso is polish, correct? I keep remembering the CLR commercial where they put half of a penny in and it comes out nice and shiny.

[TheB1GDude]

Yeah brasso is polish... my dad was a silversmith for like 30 years.... whenever he cleaned stuff at home he would either boil and then brasso it and it would be as good as new or get this powdered stuff that dissolved in water that he left them soak in then the crap just washed off, thats similar to that cleaning plate seen on the infomercial...

I can ask him tomorrow what he would use if you like.... problem is we might have to convert it from and english product to the equivalent american product....

[BART]

Sounds good bud. Tell them what they are so I dont destroy them

[TheB1GDude]

Any ideas what they are made from?

[jimmythekid1]

I've heard polishing them lowers the value

[BART]

Originally Posted by TheB1GDude

Any ideas what they are made from?

Metal some look like a dime and some look like a penny. 30's to 40's German coins is all I know. From WWII and have Nazi symbols on them. I could get a pic if you like, probably wouldnt help much though.

Originally Posted by jimmythekid1

I've heard polishing them lowers the value

I have read that but I'm not concerned about the value. I bought them for me. Maybe someday I will kick myself for that statement though.

[lol]

i forgot what i did with the half dollar from 1948, but I messed up the metal trying to clean it.. oh right, oven cleaner. Spray it for like 1 hour, leave it there, don't overnight then everything should be fine. :O

[BART]

Any news B1G?

[Michael Long]

I would say use peroxide. I use that to clean the rust off metal on batteries and such. Or use rubbing alcohol.

[deckerz]

im no collector of coins but when i have really dirty coins i pour a small glass of a fizzy drink or 'soda' and just pop them in, 10mins later its like they're new.

[Stampedekid]

I usually use Vinegar for my old coins. Also brought in one of my old "wheat pennies" (from like 1910's) to my tech teacher when i had tech and he polished it and it looked REALLY nice

[BART]

Originally Posted by TheB1GDude

Yeah brasso is polish... my dad was a silversmith for like 30 years.... whenever he cleaned stuff at home he would either boil and then brasso it and it would be as good as new or get this powdered stuff that dissolved in water that he left them soak in then the crap just washed off, thats similar to that cleaning plate seen on the infomercial...

I can ask him tomorrow what he would use if you like.... problem is we might have to convert it from and english product to the equivalent american product....

Any word B1G?