Cleaning coins

[Mr_Stephen 0]

Recently acquired a bunch of pretty grubby hammered coins. A bit of water and tissue paper has removed a fair amount of dirt making them rather more legible, but I was wondering how much further can one go? I've got some coins that are practically illegible due to excessive polishing, so I'm sure there's a fine line between 'not enough cleaning' and 'too much'. What products/techniques would you advise...?

[copper123 1,514]

acetone is quite good - inert and does not produce a cleaned look

Soap and water is pretty much the same but you might have to use a bit more elbow grease - a small pack of toothpicks is often good for getting off gunk from around lettering.

[Mr_Stephen 0]

Cheers! Would it be safe to leave coins inserted in acetone for any length of time? I'm talking mainly of hammered silvers here...

[VickySilver 847]

Yes, virtually unlimited although the benefits start to tail off. I tend to soak a high nap white cotton towel and tamp the surfaces....Pictures (dare I ask with my poor skills)?

[Mr_Stephen 0]

I'll post some pictures if I need any help identifying. They currently appear to consist of a glut of Edwards, with one potential Richard amongst them. Mainly pennies, but a few half pennies. Still, that's eight of them for £16, which can't be bad!

[Mr_Stephen 0]

Oh yeah, and another coin I picked up a few weeks back is a William & Mary halfpenny. Now, although it's very corroded (thus presumably a tin one), it doesn't appear to have a 'plug' in the centre of it (thus a copper one?) It also lacks a date (tin), yet William's hair ribbons are pointing downwards, rather than at a right angle (copper!)

I'll get 'round to taking a photo at some point, but I'm still stumped as to a) which one it is and whether it's going to be cleanable or not! If it *is* tin, might acetone finish it off...?

[Mr_Stephen 0]

Ah, there we go. This is a direct link to the ebay auction I won it from

This probably needs a new thread, but it's so ugly I didn't want to offend anyone!

[Peter 615]

It is 1694 but worn and corroded.I would read its last rights and confine it away from your collection

[Mr_Stephen 0]

You'll be pleased to know that this coin is, thus far, the most 'ill' coin in my collection. And I'm not using that word in the youth patois sense.

I hadn't assumed it was the 1694 type as there appears to be no evidence at all that there's even been a date on the back, yet Britannia herself is only about as corroded as the obverse. I suppose William's hair-do gives it away, though.

Thanks for the clarification, anyway!

[Peter 615]

If it was 1693 it would be so rare..a couple of copper farthings I know exist.

Often the date is not apparent due to the lack of quality control in the striking and Britannia has no head.There are some nice examples but cost a fortune.

[Peckris 579]

It is 1694 but worn and corroded.I would read its last rights and confine it away from your collection

"You have the right to remain badly corroded, but any value you may have once had will be taken right down and used against you, as from earth you came and unto earth you shall return - rust to rust, gashes to gashes..."

[Mr_Stephen 0]

I didn't know any had been issued in 1693! The Coins of the UK site lists only 1694 for the W&M copper halfpenny...

[Coppers 58]

I didn't know any had been issued in 1693! The Coins of the UK site lists only 1694 for the W&M copper halfpenny...

Here is a link to one that sold last year in a London Coins Sale

link

[Mr_Stephen 0]

Thanks for that. Is that not a farthing though...?

[Peckris 579]

Thanks for that. Is that not a farthing though...?

Yes. And how are the mighty fallen : sold for well over £9k by Colin Cooke in 2008, and only £4k in the London auction..

[Coppers 58]

Thanks for that. Is that not a farthing though...?

Yes. And how are the mighty fallen : sold for well over £9k by Colin Cooke in 2008, and only £4k in the London auction..

My mistake -- my mind was on farthings

The CC coin does not appear to be the same one that sold in the London Coins sale.