Numismatics is a fashionable hobby. Sometimes it is necessary to clean and modern coins that are dirty for one reason or another. What means to use for removal of pollution, than to remove oxidation? How to clean a coin at home in a safe way and correctly determine the metal from which it is made?
Primary processing
Start by removing dirt. All metals tolerate ordinary washing well. In a container of a suitable size, dilute the soap solution, soak the coins for several minutes, and then clean them with a soft cloth or brush. Pay particular attention to relief elements. Then rinse with warm clean water and polish with a dry cloth. These manipulations are not at all difficult to perform for an amateur collector. It is much more difficult to answer the question of how to clear a coin at home, if there are signs of oxidation. It is important to correctly determine the metal from which the product is made. The easiest way is to find an existing coin in the catalog and read its description, or take it to an antique shop for evaluation.
How to clear an old silver coin?
Normal metal baking soda removes traces of oxidation from a noble metal . The powder must be wetted to the consistency of a thick slurry and treated with this mass the surface of the coin. If the silver is low, it is not difficult to remove the plaque on your own. Immerse the product in pure lemon juice and leave for a couple of hours. How to clear a coin at home if the silver sample is above the 625th? There are several reliable ways. You can use ammonia, zilbertausbader or acidic fixer. All these substances are used in the form of solutions. The fabric is placed at the bottom of the container, coins are laid out on it and poured with an active composition. After some time, all products must be turned over, and finally rinsed with clean water. Shine silver coins with tooth powder.
How to clean a coin at home if it is made of copper, zinc or iron?
Copper products covered with a specific greenish coating are almost impossible to return to their original appearance on their own. Such an education is called a “copper coin”, and only professional restorers in a laboratory are able to cope with it. If you don’t know how to clean dirt from an old copper coin and give it a shine, try soaking it in vinegar. The solution of this substance should not be stronger than 10%. Immerse the products in a container and soak in the liquid for a while.
Coins made of iron and zinc are cleaned with hydrochloric acid. Such an operation is also not always easy to perform at home. If you still decide, be sure to use personal protective equipment and control the time of metal processing. The algorithm is simple. Coins are soaked in acid, then the plaque is brushed off with a stiff brush. At the end, the products are rinsed in clean water and polished with a cloth. Please note that it is customary for collectors to clean coins from all types of contamination. On the contrary, some types of plaque are considered noble and it is on them that determine the age of the item.