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How to clean coins from rust and oxidation at home? Folk ways to clean old coins from rust, plaque and other contaminants How to clean rusty coins at home

Antique coins are made of silver and copper alloys. Over time, they become covered with a corrosive coating. Rusty spots often appear on the surface of modern metal banknotes. Plaque cleaning is a difficult process.

You can remove rust and dirt from a metal surface at home. Such work requires great care, because the task, as a rule, is not only to get rid of the effects of corrosion, but also not to damage the coins.

If they are old and have a numismatic value, when cleaning them, it is desirable to preserve the noble patina - a kind of visiting card of antiquity.

Method 1. Soap solution

This is one of the most affordable and versatile recipes that is suitable for cleaning any alloy. Immersion in soapy water is safe, including for antique items that include copper.

Cleaning can last from two to three hours to several months. Coins must be periodically removed from the soapy solution, washed under running water and cleaned with a soft brush. If the result is achieved, the money is washed and wiped dry. If not, return to soapy water.

The solution is prepared on the basis of neutral soap, for example, for children. Composition:

• 50 g of baby soap;
• 70 ml warm water.

Can be cleaned with laundry soap. It must be grated on a fine grater and prepare a solution: 1 part soap to 8 parts water. Mix the ingredients thoroughly, dip the coins into the solution for a couple of weeks. Soapy water with coins is periodically heated, not boiling. Numismatists often choose this option to clean coins minted before 1924. More modern metal money is not recommended to be cleaned in a solution of laundry soap.

Method 2. Citric acid

This method allows you to quickly restore the original appearance of the coin. Please note: copper and silver coins are restored in different ways. Therefore, the material must be taken into account.

Copper

When cleaning copper money, you must act very carefully. If you follow the instructions, then all dirt and stains can be cleaned very quickly. Necessary:

1. Pour 100 ml of warm water (35-50C) into a glass or ceramic container.
2. Add citric acid crystals.
3. The concentration depends on the state of the object. For medium soiling, you will need about 1/3 teaspoon.
4. Place the coin in acidified water.

Now it is necessary not to miss the moment when the coin acquires a characteristic copper tint. It must be turned over, wait until the other side becomes the color of copper.

When choosing this method of cleaning, it is worth considering: the acid will remove not only dirt, but also patina. You can restore the patina at home. There is a very simple method that gives a nice, even patina: leave a clean coin on the back of a kitchen vent for a few days.

But if you have very valuable specimens, it is better to entrust their cleaning to specialists who use modern ultrasonic methods that preserve the patina.

Silver

Necessary:

1. Pour a glass of warm water into a ceramic bowl.
2. Add two teaspoons of citric acid.
3. Dip a silver coin into the solution for 10 minutes.
4. Take out a coin, clean it with a brush.

The acid will soften the plaque without harming the surface. Dirt can be easily removed with a brush.

Simple Ways to Clean Modern Coins

Removing rust from modern coins is quite easy. Here are some effective homemade recipes:

• A brush and toothpaste will deal with a small amount of rust. Apply the paste to the brush, intensively rub both sides of the coin. After removing plaque, rinse the coin in running water and dry.
• 24 hours in regular Coca-Cola will help return the coins to a presentable appearance. This popular carbonated liquid contains phosphoric acid. It is able to remove dirt and rust stains. To speed up the process, you can put a container with Coca-Cola and money in heat.
• Sour milk is a good helper to fight rust and dirt. In a sour-milk environment, the coins will have to spend two to three days.
• A mixture of vinegar and baking soda works well. The gruel is applied to the coin, carefully rubbed, washed with water, and dried.
• You can buy a special polish and apply it according to the instructions. Such a tool can be bought from coin dealers or in an antiques store.

It is only in adventure films that open chests with treasures spread the radiance of gold around them. In reality, everything is a little different, the coins found are not always made of gold, there is no need to talk about chests. But a copper coin accidentally found under a floorboard or dug up in a garden can be worth more than gold if you get a rare copy in your hands. But

To clean or not to clean old coins

The desire to clean the coin arises for various reasons: there are fingerprints, dirt, corrosion, oxides have appeared, I want to “make it as it was”, give it a marketable appearance before selling it. But is it always worth it?

This question is asked by any novice numismatist, holding a coin that has darkened, with a coating of oxides and corrosion, in the palm of his hand, before placing it in a collection or selling it.

Do not rush, coins with traces of time are valued much more than polished coins. After an inept cleaning, the coin will lose most of its value. After all, cleaning can reveal defects hidden under a layer of dirt and oxides.

Before cleaning a coin, you need to determine what metal it is made of, how badly damaged it is, and how great its collectible value is.

Metals from which coins are most often made

• gold;
• silver;
• copper;
• bronze;
• iron;
• zinc;
• aluminum;
• nickel;
• platinum.

Gold and platinum are inert metals. They do not oxidize, do not rust, and therefore do not need to be cleaned. The most that can be done is to wash the coins with soapy water. Do not use any abrasive products and hard brushes - scratches will remain on the coins.

Silver is subject to oxidation, in some cases it must be cleaned. To choose the right tool, first determine the sample of silver. On coins with high and low fineness, different oxides are formed.

Contamination from high-grade silver is removed with ammonia, from low-grade silver - Trilon B. Mechanical cleaning and abrasives cannot be used.

Important! For polished coins of “proof” quality, only washing with soapy water is allowed; no cleaning methods are allowed for them.

Copper eventually develops a chocolate brown, green-black or black patina. If the layer is even, the coin should not be cleaned. Patina testifies to the authenticity of the coin, gives it a noble appearance and protects the metal from external influences. Whether or not to clean coins with uneven patina depends on the condition of the coin and its value. Caverns may appear under the oxide layer and the coin will lose value.

Bronze contains copper in its composition, so cleaning methods should be used the same as for it.

Collectors advise cleaning aluminum, zinc, iron with Reinigungsbad from Silbo. All others do not give the desired effect, and coins can be damaged. On low-value coins, you can experiment with household chemicals, as an option - Cillit.

Aluminum and zinc coins should not be washed with soap, alkali and acid dissolve them. Before placing in the collection, it is recommended to wipe with alcohol.

So, you have determined what metal the coin is made of, its value and degree of contamination and decided to clean it. Careful and at the same time effective cleaning is not a quick process, it may take several days to bring the coin to the desired state. Use the simplest and safest means first, moving to more aggressive ones if necessary. Prepare everything you need for this.

How to wash and what cleaning products to use

Professionals advise using special tools to clean coins. The most famous of them are Trilon B and Silbo liquids.

Trilon B is sold as a powder that must be diluted in water. This is a rather strong and aggressive agent, coins should be soaked in it under constant supervision and then rinsed with water.

Silbo liquids are not cheap, but they clean dirt from coins well and gently. There are liquids for various metals.

In addition to professional, you can use home remedies.

How to clean coins at home

• professional tools;
• baking soda;
• salt;
• table vinegar 9%;
• citric acid or lemon juice;
• soap for children without fragrance;
• household chemicals;
• Coca Cola.

Plaque removal materials and tools

• containers for solutions and products;
• soft toothbrush;
• toilet paper or paper towels;
• rubber gloves;
• eraser;
• toothpicks for mechanical removal of small contaminants.

Method suitable for any coins

The safest and most necessary thing to do is wash the coin. Lather the coin with baby soap and rub gently with your fingers, then rinse with clean water and dry. Often this is enough to wash off all the excess dirt, grease and sweat from the fingers to place the coin in storage. Coins made of gold, platinum, as well as polished proof coins do not require any other processing. If the dirt is not washed off, soak the coin in soapy water for 6-8 hours.

Proof (Proof) - the technology of minting coins of improved quality, with a smooth mirror field and a matte embossed pattern. Such coins are minted in a limited edition for collectors or as souvenirs.

These methods will help get rid of dirt, but are powerless in the oxidation of the metal.

If the coins are covered with rust or oxide

Rust is usually called any red plaque on the metal, which is not entirely true. Rust forms only on iron or its alloys. Other metals also oxidize, but this process is called corrosion. Consider how to remove traces of rust and corrosion from coins.

What you need

• vinegar;
• citric acid or lemon;
• Coca Cola;
• salt;
• soda;
• soap.

Vinegar, citric acid, lemon

1. Pour vinegar into the container and dip the coin into it.
2. Hold on for a few minutes. You can not overexpose the coin, copper coins will have a pink tint.
3. When you see that the coin is clean, remove it from the acid and rinse it with water, adding baking soda to neutralize it.

Similarly, coins are cleaned with citric acid and lemon. A solution is prepared from the acid, the lemon is cut into two parts, the coin is immersed in the pulp. It is important that the coin is completely immersed in the acidic solution, otherwise a stripe will appear at the interface of the media, which will be very difficult to remove.

Coca-Cola contains phosphoric acid, which dissolves rust well. Soak coins in it, then rinse with water.

To make the coins shine like new, after soaking in acid, rub it with a piece of foil or an eraser. The eraser is preferable, it will not scratch the surface.

Vinegar, flour and salt paste

1. Mix 1 teaspoon flour, 0.5 teaspoon salt and 2 teaspoons vinegar.
2. With the resulting gruel, gently rub-massage the coins until they become clean.
3. Rinse with running water.

Video: how to clean coins with a paste of vinegar and salt

Advice! When using any aggressive means, protect your hands with rubber gloves.

Vinegar and baking soda paste

1. Dilute the baking soda with vinegar until a slurry forms.
2. Apply it to the coin and rub it with your fingers or a cloth.
3. Rinse in water.

Copper coins are cleaned of oxides in a different way.

Removing green deposits from copper money

In this case, Trilon B will help, digestion in vaseline or used engine oil, soaking in an ammonia solution.

When boiling in oil, observe safety precautions, use deep dishes, cover it with a lid. Otherwise, the oil vapors will ignite and cause a fire.

Ammonia cleaning

The so-called coins from the cop - dug out of the ground, can be cleaned with Cillit.

Coins are dipped into the liquid for several minutes, periodically turning over. At the end of the treatment, rinse with clean water using a toothbrush. If necessary, the processing is repeated.

Video: cleaning darkened coins from a cop with Cillit

Old coins require a special, more careful approach.

Cleaning old coins

Antique coins are best tried to clean with soapy paste. This will take a lot of time, but it will not harm the coins.

How to wash using soap paste

1. Grate baby soap and dissolve it in hot water until you get a thick jelly.
2. Cool the paste, put the coins in it, leave for a few hours. Periodically turn the coins over and check how clean they are.
3. Remove the coins from the paste and rinse with clean water. You can rub it lightly with an old toothbrush.
4. If dirt still remains, soak the coins in the paste for a few more hours and repeat the treatment. Some coins may take up to a month to clear.

Video: soap for cleaning silver, copper, bronze money

Another gentle way is digestion in a solution of baking soda.

Digestion in a soda solution

1. Dissolve 2-3 teaspoons of baking soda in 100 ml of water and heat to a boil.
2. Dip coins in a boiling solution, boil for 5-10 minutes.
3. Remove the coins and rinse with clean water.
4. Carefully wipe off the remaining dirt with a soapy toothbrush and rinse again.
5. If plaque still remains, repeat digestion.

If you still have an old 9-12 volt phone charger, you can try to clean the coins by electrolysis.

electrolysis method

Since the method involves the use of electricity, evaluate your knowledge in this area before using it.

1. Cut the plug and separate the wires. Attach to each "crocodile" - a clip.
2. Pour a glass of water into a container and dissolve a pinch of salt in it. The container should not be metal, it is better to take a glass jar.
3. Clamp a coin and a metal spoon or nail with crocodiles. Positive wire - to the coin, negative - to the spoon.
4. Lower the coin and spoon into the jar so that they do not touch each other, and the coin does not touch the bottom.
5. Insert the plug into the socket. Under the action of the current, the electrolysis reaction will begin, the saline solution will darken. This dissolves the metal oxides on the coin.
6. After 2-3 minutes, remove the plug from the outlet and dip the coin into the baking soda solution to stop the reaction.
7. Rinse with clean water.

Perhaps, most often a novice collector has to deal with coins of the USSR.

How to clear rubles and kopecks of the USSR

The most common coins of the USSR are made of copper-nickel and bronze alloys.

The best way to clean them is with a solution of salt in vinegar.

How to remove plaque with a solution of salt in vinegar

Video: use salt and vinegar to clean coins

Some collectors advise cleaning such coins with household chemicals. Pour some liquid into a plastic container and hold the coin in it for several minutes. After processing, the coin may acquire a whitish or pinkish coating. Clean it with an eraser or soda. The pinkish coating will disappear after a couple of weeks, when the coin will again be covered with patina.

The method is effective, but whether or not to use it on coins is up to you. After all, these are quite aggressive means.

Video: how to clear coins with Dixi

A separate story - modern coins. Despite the fact that such coins are still used as a means of payment, fans of collecting commemorative and commemorative coins do not become less. The cost of some of them reaches 12 thousand rubles.

Cleaning modern coins from plaque dirt

In most cases, such coins do not particularly require cleaning. Just wash them in soapy water and dry properly. If the coin is in the collection for a long time, it will inevitably fade and darken.

One of the methods already described above will help restore its original appearance.

1. Dip the coin in the ammonia solution for a few seconds. This is enough to remove the tarnish and give the coin a shine.
2. If ammonia is not at hand, dip in vinegar or a solution of citric acid.
3. Coins are cleaned well if they are held in Coca-Cola. This drink contains phosphoric acid and is quite suitable for this application.
4. Stubborn stains are removed with toothpaste. Apply it to the surface and rub it with your fingers or a soft toothbrush. Try not to use excessive force to avoid scratching the surface.

Modern foreign coins can be cleaned in the same way.

Among modern commemorative coins, bimetallic ones are especially valued. Coins made from two metals - the central part from one, the rim - from the other, add headaches to collectors. After all, different metals are cleaned with different means.

Bimetal coin cleaning

A rather unusual, but effective way - with the help of another household chemical - Cif spray.

How to wash and clean with Cif anti-plaque ultra-fast spray

Video: how to clean bimetallic coins with Cif spray

Polish to a shine: how to avoid scratches

• Do not use GOI paste to clean coins, along with oxides and dirt, you will also erase the pattern of the coin.
• Any metal brushes, sponges will cause irreparable damage to the coins.
• Do not use strong acids for cleaning, they will destroy the coin. Vinegar use only 5-9%.
• Polish to a shine only those coins that you will admire yourself. Glitter does not add value to coins.
• Try not to damage the patina during cleaning - this is evidence of the authenticity of the coin and its protection.
• Collectible coins should not be taken with bare hands, use cotton gloves for this.
• Be sure to wash the coins before storing them. As a rule, under the traces of fingers, the process of corrosion begins on them.
• Do not clean coins made of gold, platinum and antique. Gold and platinum do not need this, and you can hopelessly ruin the old ones.
• Coins with a smooth patina, even if it seems to you that it is too dark, it is better not to clean it.
• You should also not clean coins if you are not sure of the integrity of their surface. Under the layer of oxides, cavities and damage to the pattern can be found.

And a little about how to properly dry coins.

Drying coins

The appearance of the coins after cleaning will depend on how competently you approach this issue. The remaining drops of water after drying will leave stains on the surface and you will have to wash the coins again.

Be sure to dry the coins and wipe with a paper towel or toilet paper. Fold the paper in several layers and fold in half. Place a coin on one half, cover the other half and blot. You can’t do this with a towel, so as not to scratch the coin and there is no pile left on it.

Not too expensive coins can be wiped with a lint-free cloth. Drying with a hairdryer is allowed.

Cleaning coins is an inexhaustible topic. Each coin requires a special approach, there are nuances of cleaning coins even from the same metal. How to clean this or that coin can only be determined by a specialist, assessing its condition. But if you are just embarking on the path of collecting coins, the information received will help you not to make mistakes at the initial stage. And you will be able to say: “I love money, it is so beautiful!”

It is known that the market value of an old and not very old coin consists of the following factors: its rarity (circulation), the metal of manufacture and, of course, the quality of preservation. Indeed, other things being equal, a coin in excellent condition can cost many times more than the same one, but dirty, rusty and shabby.

That is why many are interested in the answer to the question of how coins are cleaned at home. In fact, this question is ambiguous and it is very risky for a beginner to take on the purification of a rarity himself. Improper cleaning can remove a valuable layer of patina from the coin disc or even damage it, which will negatively affect the final auction value.

Let's look at the most gentle ways to clean coins from rust, oxidation and black deposits to a shine at home, depending on what metal they are made of, as well as some universal methods.

Universal ways

By the way, there are universal cleaning methods that are safe for coins made of any metal. Let's take a closer look at some of them.

soap solution

The most non-aggressive is a mushy or liquid, but very concentrated solution of ordinary soap. The soap is rubbed on a fine grater and mixed with water to a mushy state. In case of severe contamination, you can soak the coin in such a solution for 8-10 hours, then rub it with your fingers.

Special agent Leuchtturm

In the field of numismatics, a special coin cleaner from Leuchtturm is known. 15 minutes after soaking the banknotes, you can wash off the dirt and clean the existing corrosion. Also, some selective household chemicals are used to wash dirt and plaque, such as Metal Cleaner from Amway.

Toothpaste

Toothpaste with abrasive particles is also widely used, however, in order to avoid damage to the coin and the appearance of small scratches on it, we recommend using softer types of paste, for example, for sensitive teeth.

Remember! If a very rare and, quite possibly, expensive coin fell into your hands, it is better not to risk it and entrust its cleaning to a professional restorer.

Cleaning brass coins at home

Money made of copper-zinc alloy is not particularly susceptible to corrosion, but it still needs to be cleaned. The most commonly used methods are:

• A thick soapy solution made from baby or laundry soap, grated on a fine grater and mixed with water will perfectly clean brass coins, but you will have to be patient. This procedure may take several weeks. Then the money is washed with warm water and cleaned with a soft toothbrush.
• Cleaning with citric acid takes less time - only 10-15 minutes, but it is important not to overdo it with the concentration, since this acid is quite aggressive towards metals.
• Oxalic acid, which is easy to find in a regular store, also copes with the build-up of dirt on brass coins. To do this, you need to immerse the money in acid for literally 5-10 minutes, then rinse and dry thoroughly.
• They clean brass coins by immersing them in the famous drink - Coca Cola. Phosphoric acid, which is part of Coca-Cola, is able to remove dirt and patina from the surface of the coin disk well.

Cleaning copper coins

Depending on the color of the patina formed on the copper coin, cleaning methods are also distinguished:

• A brown, red or purple patina “speaks” of the presence of cuprous oxide on the coin disc, which is quite easy to remove with a 15% ammonia solution.
• A whitish patina is a sign of a lead ligature on a copper surface, it is removed after the coin has been in distilled water for several days. After that, the plaque becomes loose and can be easily wiped off with a cloth.
• The yellow patina indicates that there is a lead ligature on the copper surface, which can be dissolved with 10% acetic acid.
• Blackening on a copper coin disc is removed in the following ways: vinegar test, ammonia, boiling in oil (most often olive, vaseline or sunflower oil is used), 5-20% sodium hexametaphosphate solution. More gentle, but also the longest in time, is soaking a coin in kefir - unusual, but effective.

Silver coin cleaning

Silver coins, along with copper coins, are most often found in hoards. Here are the options for cleaning them:

• The most gentle and affordable is the cleaning of silver coins with soda mixed with water to a mushy state. This mixture also allows the coin to return to its original luster.
• Green plaque on the surface of a coin made of precious metal can be removed with a weak solution of sulfuric acid, which is poured into a ceramic cup and a silver coin is placed there. Periodically, the coin is cleaned of softened plaque and placed back into the solution. After complete removal of green plaque, the coin is washed for at least 15 minutes under tap water.
• In order not to risk with sulfuric acid, which in high concentration can damage fine details of the relief, you can replace it with citric acid, but the cleaning time will be longer.

Bronze coin cleaning

Cleaning procedures for bronze coins are similar to those used to give a presentation to copper coins. Collectors usually use:

• toothpaste,
• Trilon solution,
• various acids,
• Ammonia.

Attention! When cleaning with ammonia (5-15% ammonia solution), you need to be especially careful. The coin is lowered into the ammonia solution and periodically rotated in it, but it is strictly forbidden to remove it from the concentrate. After the cleaning process is completed, you must first, gradually adding water, reduce the concentration of ammonia and only then get the money.

1. Sometimes, during the cleaning process, ancient bronze coins lose their noble patina, for which many collectors are even willing to pay extra. Therefore, the "craftsmen" contrived to apply the patina on their own - for this, it is enough to place the money in a 10% hyposulfite solution for 10 minutes. Such a coating looks quite attractive and also protects the coin disk from corrosion.
2. Avoid using brushes with metal bristles, which can damage the surface of the coin and ruin its appearance.
3. GOI paste is the worst solution for cleaning coins with improvised materials. It spoils fine details on the coin and damages the patina.
4. Do not use harsh acids when cleaning - they can destroy the coin.

Many collections have good coins (without mechanical damage), but with dirt or dark spots. The problem can be solved in various ways to eliminate external defects. We will talk about them in this article.

Types of coin cleaning

Depending on the degree of contamination, the characteristics of the material and other factors, it is necessary to determine the appropriate method. Among the main types of coin cleaning are the following:

• chemical,
• mechanical,

• cooking,
• electrolysis.

The chemical type of cleaning involves the use of ammonia, acids, soda, soap, detergents and washing powder. In the presence of concentrated hydrochloric acid, you can make a special bath with a solution and immerse coins there. After the procedure, it is better to rinse the coins with alkali to stop the reaction.

Cleaning warm soapy water suitable for most metals. You can fix and enhance the effect obtained with any dishwashing detergent, ordinary laundry soap will also give a good result. Coins with minor contamination should be soaked in the resulting solution for 2-3 hours. Coins with abundant coating can be kept in the prepared liquid for about a day.

How to clean a coin with baking soda

Soda cleaning is an alkaline method of removing dirt and is suitable for low-grade copper and silver specimens. The process is carried out easily, without creating special conditions. First, a slurry is formed from a spoonful of soda and a small amount of water, then the mixture is applied to the coin. Removal of dirt is carried out with an ordinary soft brush. Soda can also be used after acid cleaning to extinguish the reaction.

How to clean a coin with vinegar

Cleaning with vinegar or citric acid suitable for hard metals. A teaspoon of soda is added to the vinegar solution, the liquids are mixed. Coins are immersed in the resulting bath and remain there until the stains disappear, and then treated with soap, warm water and a soft brush. If the contamination is not washed off, the procedure is repeated.

It is undesirable to use this method for coins made of gold, silver or copper.

Cleaning coins by electrolysis

Electrolysis- the most dangerous, but also the fastest method of eliminating defects. Cleaning is carried out by applying current to a slightly salty solution of water with a coin placed there. We will talk about this method in more detail at the end of the article.

ammonia as a coin cleaner

Cleaning with ammonia is suitable for products made of silver, pure copper or alloys containing it. The coin is immersed in ammonia for the time necessary to achieve the effect, then removed and washed. The room in which such cleaning is carried out must be well ventilated.

mechanical cleaning

For mechanical cleaning, various objects and tools are used (drills, brushes, needles, scalpels, pieces of cloth, etc.). This method is quite effective and removes any contamination, but there is a risk of damage to the surface of the products.

Digestion of coins

When cooking, the coin is processed in a boiling liquid, you can additionally use oil (vaseline or olive).

Several coins are placed in a pot with hot oil for 10 minutes(it is more convenient to clean in a special lattice box on a chain). After cooking, wash the products with a brush and soap and remove the remaining oil by thoroughly boiling the coins in distilled water.

After cooking, the specimens acquire radiance and brilliance, but a noble patina comes off them, which gives the products additional value. It is better not to expose rare coins to such an impact.

Rules for cleaning gold, silver and copper coins

The choice of the optimal method is made taking into account the specific properties of the metal. Cleaning, carried out in the absence of the necessary knowledge and experience, will not give the coin its original appearance, but will significantly harm it. For example, mechanical action using asidol or jewelry paste leaves scratches and helps to erase small details of drawings.

Cleaning of gold coins

Gold coins do not need aggressive cleaning. If the products appear dirty, it will be enough to wash them with warm soapy water, rinse with water and dry. Do not rub gold coins intensively, because even ordinary fabric leaves on noble metal small scratches.

Silver coin cleaning

Choosing the right cleaning method for silver items depends on from the sample and the degree of oxidation of the metal. High-quality silver coins can be cleaned by placing them in a solution of ammonia (10% ammonia and 90% water) for an hour or in a soda solution (30 g of soda per 100 ml of water) for several hours. The process will be accelerated if the liquid is brought to a boil several times, and the oxidized areas are treated with a soft brush.

High-grade coins with slight traces of oxidation are best cleaned with a mixture of toothpaste, ammonia and baking soda. The resulting mass should not contain abrasive particles. The coin must be covered with the mixture and rubbed with fingers or a brush.

Suitable for cleaning low-grade silver coins Trilon B solution. When the green layer comes off the surface of the coin, you can continue the process using a special mixture for silver of a certain sample.

Cleaning copper coins

Copper products are subject to the formation of a layer of patina on the surface. If there are no signs of corrosion on the coin, and the film is uniform, then it is better not to take risks and not expose the copy to cleaning. Patina protects metal from corrosion and gives the coin a noble appearance. To eliminate traces of touch and grease, the product can be washed in warm water.

Coins that have undergone corrosion are best cleaned using aggressive reagents (acetic and citric acids, Trilon B). They will gradually separate the damaged metal layer, without affecting the solid base. To process weakly oxidized coins, soaking in solution for several hours will suffice, while heavily oxidized coins can be left for a day or more.

Bronze coin cleaning

Bronze products are cleaned according to the same principle as copper ones. But keep in mind that ammonia changes bronze color. The metal may turn brown or even black. The shine of a bronze coin can be easily restored by applying toothpaste to its surface and washing it in warm water. Dry the products after cleaning by wrapping them in two layers of a soft cloth and a paper towel.

Sulfuric and nitric acids should not be used to clean copper or silver coins, as they destroy the fine details of the pattern.

Coin cleaners and tools

In addition to the above methods, there are others. Tools that are suitable for cleaning:

• toothbrushes of varying degrees of softness;
• wooden toothpicks;
• brush with natural bristles;
• plastic utensils, tweezers;
• reagents (soap, distilled water, soda, linseed and vaseline oil).

It is not recommended to clean rare and valuable coins on your own - professionals will do a better job. The following cleaning methods are suitable for dug metal. The main goal is to preserve the patina when cleaning, removing all unnecessary oxides. Before processing, the coins are washed with soap.

The best safe way to clean coins

The simplest and safest method is using laundry soap. Boiling water is poured into a hermetically sealed plastic container and grated 72% laundry soap is poured.

When the solution thickens, coins are placed in it. After a day or two, the coins are removed and rubbed with a toothbrush with trimmed bristles. The procedure is repeated until the desired result is achieved. Some oxides can be carefully removed with a wooden toothpick.

The disadvantage of this method is that it takes a lot of time, but its undoubted advantage is that the extra layers are removed gently and gently.

Exposure using caustic soda is a very quick method, but suitable not for all coins. Both products with a relatively even field and with an uneven thin film are cleaned well.

In the manufacture of caustic soda solution, safety precautions must be observed. Dissolve granules (1 sachet per 500 ml) only in distilled cold water, take a coin with tweezers and be sure to work with gloves.

The product is immersed in a solution for 10 minutes. Then washed with water. The softened oxides can then be easily removed with a brush.

If during the cleaning process the oxides on the product become blue or green, the process must be interrupted immediately.

Cleaning copper coins

Careless cleaning of a copper coin can cause chips and pits to appear on its surface. Depending on the type of corrosion, the appropriate method of exposure is selected. Reddish plaque is removed with a five percent solution of ammonia or ammonium carbonate. The coin must be held in ammonia solution no more than 1-2 minutes. Green plaque can be removed with a solution of citric or acetic acid. A yellowish coating is dissolved with a 10% solution of acetic acid.

After cleaning the coin by any of the above methods, it must be boil in distilled water. After several boilings, you can check whether the coin is completely cleansed by dropping a 1.7% solution of silver azonic acid into the water. If after that the water remains clear, then the cleaning process must be completed.

After cleaning, the product must be thoroughly dried. You can place a copy in a special drying cabinet for two hours or dry it in acetone, and then in alcohol (no more than an hour).

If the natural patina on the coin could not be preserved, can be artificial to give the product an attractive appearance. 50 g of copper sulfate and 5 g of potassium permanganate are added per liter of distilled water. The resulting solution is heated to 80-90 degrees. Coins are placed in the heated liquid. Next, turn the coins over from time to time and wait for the desired color to appear. After the procedure, the coins must be dried and covered with a mixture of alcohol and benzene 1: 1 to protect against corrosion. You can also read about artificial patina in the article ""

Electrochemical cleaning

Electrolysis- a quick and effective way to remove dirt, but its use is associated with some of the dangers inherent in the operation of any electrical appliance. The device must be used in a well-ventilated and well-lit area. Before carrying out the process, be sure to wear protective gloves And glasses.

When using electrolysis, the risk of damaging a coin increases significantly (by several times compared to other methods). Assembly requires a power supply with voltage 6-12 volts. The plugs are cut off and the wires are divided into two parts. The ends of the wire are stripped of insulation. Copper veins need to be twisted, soldered or attached to metal clips. Next, a shallow plastic container is taken and filled with saline or soda solution (1 tbsp per 0.5 l).

Turn on the power supply. The clamps hold on to isolated places at a distance from each other (if they touch, a short circuit will disable the power supply). The clamps must be immersed in a container with a solution. One of them will hiss and release gas - this is a "+".

It needs to be connected to a coin, and the second clip, (respectively "-") is connected to a small metal object (for example, to a spoon or a key).

The second option is reverse connection. The positive clip connects to a metal object, and the negative clip connects to a coin. The reverse connection gently cleans the coin and does not harm its metal core.

Depending on the amount of plaque and the degree of contamination, the cleaning process takes from several minutes (if a “+” is connected to the coin) and 40 minutes to 4 hours(if "-" is connected).

When finished cleaning, turn off the device from the mains, remove the coin from the solution and clean it with a brush with a little liquid soap. To eliminate special, complex contaminants, the procedure will have to be repeated. The solution will become dirty after a while and will need to be replaced in order to re-electrolyze.

Summing up on the topic of cleaning

A method of cleaning coins that would allow them to return to their original appearance exactly, does not exist, but with due diligence, you can significantly improve the condition of the coins. The safest option is to use soapy water.

More severe soiling may require coins to be soaked in solution for extended periods of time. Sometimes you have to wait several weeks for the result.

For prolonged soaking solution needs to be changed. to a new one, and periodically remove the coin itself and clean off the softened layers of dirt from it. For gold coins, this cleaning method is ideal.

After the procedure, the product is dried, wrapped in a soft cloth. Mechanical cleaning is also considered a relatively safe method, but it is absolutely not suitable for soft metals that are easily scratched.

the main task- do not completely ruin the coin and do not deprive it of its noble patina. Some specimens are better not to be cleaned at all, but simply washed. It is recommended to practice on the simplest coins before starting work. Be sure to follow the safety regulations (chemical cleaning methods can be hazardous to health).

Yes, tsinkar thanks, otherwise 1 pfening lies

The acid will not make it, like the token, better, but will simply destroy the oxides (including protective ones) on the surface of the item!

Rust converter "TSINKAR"

This is a preparation in which we managed to combine the advantages of two, above conventionally defined areas of corrosion protection. To combine is not to get "two" by simply adding "one plus one", etc. In our case, this is finding the optimal ratio of the components included in the composition: phosphoric acid, certain salts of Zinc and Manganese.

When the drug is applied to the metal surface, the oxide forms of iron are destroyed and converted into phosphates, while reactions involving zinc and manganese occur.The result is the creation of a simultaneously strong and at the same time "active" complex-element protective layer on the surface of the steel structure.. It is necessary to emphasize once again: the "TSINKAR" ingredients must be in strictly defined proportions! Since their redistribution in the process of forming a protective coating is the "key" of efficiency rust converter "TSINKAR".

The result of the work - rust converter "TSINKAR"- combining galvanic-potentiometric and mechanical-strength properties of protection.

Attention consumers! After completion of a series of tests with positive results, since November 2006, along with the usual bottle, "Tsinkar" in a spray bottle. The color of the bottle has not changed (orange-yellow), the shape of the bottle is for easy gripping and holding in the hand.

Its advantages:

Ease of use;

More uniform distribution of the product over the surface;

drug savings;

The possibility of processing hidden cavities and hard-to-reach surfaces (for example: ceiling, remote, etc.).

Application area

The rust converter "Tsinkar" is intended for the treatment of metal (steel) surfaces in order to remove (convert) corrosion damage (rust) and protect the treated surfaces from subsequent atmospheric and climatic influences.

The following steel products (structures) are subject to processing: garages, roofs, cars, trusses (pillars) of bridges and overpasses, products with welded seams, rivet joints. Processing is carried out before painting or applying other protective coatings.

Composition

A product based on purified phosphoric acid with the addition of active ingredients in strictly regulated proportions: zinc and manganese compounds.

Product effectiveness

Due to the active components, the effectiveness of this drug is 2-2.5 times higher than the “Rust Converters” of a monophosphate composition (widely represented on the Russian market).

"Active" zinc and manganese form a strong protective layer on the treated surface. At the same time, zinc "works" when electrochemical corrosion occurs, manganese creates the effect of alloying the surface, strengthens the protective layer, which is not observed when monophosphate compositions are used.

Mode of application:

Clean the metal surface from loose (peeling) rust

Apply the product to the surface with a brush, roller or spray method

Hold until dry

Repeat treatment (if necessary)

After drying (last treatment), it is enough to wipe the surface with a dry rag or brush (to remove residual plaque)

The treatment can be repeated from one to several times. With each subsequent treatment, physical and chemical strength increases

Average option - 2 treatments

Surface ready for painting

The procedure for applying paint and varnish or other coatings after treatment with "Zincar" in accordance with their instructions for their use.

Briefly speaking, like this color I have highlighted key phrases.

You think why you need protection from patina:

protection of treated surfaces from subsequent atmospheric and climatic influences.