Millions of people are addicted to numismatics. Gathering a collection, almost every numismatist is faced with the need to clean contaminated coins. It is important not only to clean the coin from dirt and oxides, but also not to damage it during cleaning.
Instruction manual
1
If the coin needs to be cleaned of dirt and dust, then simply rinse it in warm water using a soft brush or toothbrush. This cleaning method is suitable for coins of any metal.
2
It is much more difficult to clean a coin covered with oxides, in this case it is necessary to take into account the alloy from which it is made. Gold coins are not oxidized, so it is enough to wash them in warm water, it is possible with the use of baby soap.
3
When cleaning silver coins, you should know their sample. If the silver is not lower than six hundred twenty-fifth test (determined by the catalog of coins), rinse the coin with a 10% solution of ammonia. Clean low-grade silver coins with regular lemon juice. During cleaning, completely immerse the coin in a solution of ammonia or lemon juice and periodically turn it over. When the oxides are removed, rinse the coin thoroughly in warm running water and dry it.
4
Silver coins can also be cleaned using ordinary baking soda. Lightly moisten a small amount of baking soda with water and wipe the item to be cleaned with the gruel to be cleaned. After removing the oxides, the coin should be washed and dried.
5
Particularly carefully and accurately, it is necessary to clean copper coins from oxides. The easiest and most reliable way to clean them is with a soapy solution: the coin is immersed in the solution, removed from time to time and cleaned with a soft brush. This is the most gentle method, but with strong oxidation, the cleaning time can reach several months.
6
Copper, bronze and brass coins can be cleaned in a weak, 5-10 percent, solution of acetic acid. Dip the coin in the solution, hold it for several minutes, turning it from time to time and rubbing it with a soft brush. After removing the green oxide deposits, wash it, then soak for about an hour in a solution of baking soda. This will help remove traces of vinegar. Then rinse the coin in warm water. You should know that over time, copper coins become covered with a dark, sometimes almost black, patina film. It should not be deleted, since the patina not only does not make the coin inferior, but, on the contrary, testifies to its authenticity.
7
The most difficult thing is to clean the rusty coins from alloys of iron and zinc. It is necessary to remove the destroyed layers, preserving the intact metal as much as possible. First, carefully remove rust with a needle or scalpel. Then lower the coin into a weak, 3-5% hydrochloric acid solution and clean, constantly monitoring the process. Rinse the cleaned coin in a solution of baking soda, then under warm running water.
