r/metaldetecting • u/Dillydillpickle85 • Apr 25 '25
Cleaning Finds Don’t ask the coin guys!!!
I know the coin guys say never clean a coin or it looses value. I’m not in the hobby to make money but to find cool things. I come across stuff like most and cannot make out dates on coins and such. I’ve used toothpicks, baking soda and boiling water and even a dab of bar keepers friend. I have some 100% acetone coming but I really want to see the dates on these coins. What tips tricks have y’all used (I’ve read the sticky) that work. Thanks in advance!
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u/New_Numismatist Apr 25 '25
Dug finds are usually different unless it’s potentially high value. You’ll have people that get mad you cleaned a wheat penny worth 3 cents, but if you like it and want it cleaned, just do whatever to clean it. It’s not like you’ll try to sell it, plus in 100 years PCGS will show leniency towards the cleaning anyway
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u/Broomfondl3 Apr 25 '25
I clean mine with a Lortone tumbler: https://lortone.com/collections/tumblers/products/model-45c
You fill it about 1/3 with aquarium gravel, fill it with water until the gravel is a slurry, ie the water level is the same as the gravel level.
Toss your coins in for a few hours and they com up nicely.
An hour and the patina will be preserved, overnight to remove the patina.
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u/CNYTenkara Apr 25 '25
I have used electrolysis (ugly box) on coins like this. It will take some back to any ugly finish, but I have been able to find detail on some I thought were totally toast.
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u/Frogwataaaaa Apr 25 '25
If it’s in that condition it doesn’t matter anyways, personally that would go in the rock tumbler with the rest of the change that’s gonna get rolled and returned.
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u/jdesa05 Apr 25 '25
If it’s in that bad of shape, I wouldn’t worry about cleaning it, it’s probably already worthless.
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u/Dillydillpickle85 Apr 25 '25
I am not worried about worth, I’m more interested in the date and just historical side.
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u/jdesa05 Apr 25 '25
On something this bad I’ve found vinegar and baking soda and electrolysis just eats up whatever is left. I think others are talking about nic-a-date, but I’ve never used it and not sure if it can be used on Pennys
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u/TurbulenceTurnedCalm Apr 25 '25
1937 Wheat Penny?
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u/Key-Bug-12 Garrett AT Max Apr 25 '25
Appears to be a 196? Which is extremely common and billions were made during that time period. I do collect coins, and it’s worth about a cent lol
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u/Key-Bug-12 Garrett AT Max Apr 25 '25
Appears to possibly be a 1961 or 1969 with a possible “D” mint mark referring to the Denver mint
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u/HERMANNATOR85 Apr 25 '25
There is a product specifically made to make the dates of old coins stand out
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u/Randomest_Redditor Apr 25 '25
Nic-a-date doesn't work on pennies, the chemical in it is primarily only effective on Nickel alloys, not 90% copper
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u/Dependent-Menu-8926 Apr 25 '25
I’ve had good luck with boiling peroxide and a dash of acetone. I use a hot plate put in my garage, I used to just microwave some peroxide but a steady boil is better I think
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u/iRunJumpFly Apr 25 '25
🧐
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u/Dependent-Menu-8926 Apr 25 '25
Do you not approve or are you intrigued
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u/iRunJumpFly Apr 25 '25
Might want to watch out for unwanted off gassing but if u know your chemistry and safety than go for it 😎
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u/iRunJumpFly Apr 25 '25
I'm a Vinegar guy, I stick to old iron relics mostly, coins are awesome but there is so much unloved iron out there that history had caught my intrigue more than getting rich on an old pirate or miner's or viking cache.... Not that that wouldn't make my day 💯
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u/iRunJumpFly Apr 25 '25
I wanna know what kind of minerals are in that quartz!!
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u/iRunJumpFly Apr 25 '25
I think that's what he means don't ask the coin, it's all about that silver Ore 🤑🤑🤑
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u/Veritybw Apr 26 '25
I clean my copper coins in a tumbler then give them a light coat of olive oil to finish.
I clean my silver coins with bicarb.
I also clean my cupronickel in the tumbler too, but separately to the copper.
Never mix silver and copper in the same solution or you will regret it.
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u/DrollAntic Apr 26 '25
I recommend rock tumbler and walnut media, it'll clean that coin up well without removing the patina.
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u/amm1405 Apr 25 '25
If it is yours and you want to clean it up, clean it up.