Preparing coins for storage??

Coins from Vending · August 30, 2013, 03:47:12 PM

Since I returned to collecting coins I have put aside about 5-600 coins.

I have only put them into the 2x2 holders.

Is there a process that should be followed before putting them in their 2x2s as in cleaning etc??

I've seen acetone mentioned, baking soda and toothpaste used as a cleaning/disinfectant type process. Should you give them a rub with a clothe of some description to remove finger prints, oils and other contaminants??

I'd hate to dig these coins out in 10 years and see they all went off due to a simple pre storage over sight?

Fulvio · August 30, 2013, 04:16:49 PM

Quote from: 'error hunter' pid='26574' dateline='1377843432'I've seen acetone mentioned, baking soda and toothpaste

NOOOOOooooooo.....!!!!!!!!!:shock::scared:

Acetone is OK, provided its pure, not nail polish remover, ever!
That other stuff is abrasive, and will ruin your coins.

Don't rub, ever. Not even with a cotton bud. You will leave fine scratches that you can't get rid of. You can ROLL the cotton bud over the surface, but never dry. Dip it in Acetone, or maybe WD40/RP7, depending on what you need to remove.

Note that fingerprints will become permanent fairly quickly. If they're not yours, chances are they're already permanently etched into the surface. If they are yours, Acetone will remove them.

If in doubt, leave it alone. The only things that absolutely need to be removed are PVC residue and Verdigris, because they will continue to eat away at the coin, and verdigris will infect any other coins it comes into contact with. Other than that, a little dirt never killed anybody.

Robster · August 30, 2013, 04:23:28 PM

I have dipped some in olive oil to slow verdigris and used acetone to clean off gunk.! All are now labelled and live in saflips.!! (most of these are early copper with diecracks, doubling etc. that are probably only of interest to me.!!

Fulvio · August 30, 2013, 04:28:07 PM

Olive oil takes forever, contains acids which vary between batches, and if two coins touch in it, they will both mark permanently along the contact surface. Not good.. Been there, done that, got the T-Shirt (and dead coins) to prove it.

Coins from Vending · August 30, 2013, 06:56:20 PM

OK cool, I haven't done anything to them just putt hem in 2x2s after given them a light clean with a dry cotton tea towel between my fingers???

Fulvio · August 30, 2013, 07:06:38 PM

Quote from: 'error hunter' pid='26606' dateline='1377854780'..a light clean with a dry cotton tea towel between my fingers???

Oh-oh.

Coins from Vending · August 30, 2013, 07:23:54 PM

is that bad???

Fulvio · August 30, 2013, 07:37:13 PM

Quote from: 'error hunter' pid='26612' dateline='1377856434'is that bad???

Dry is always bad. Rubbing is bad. Tea towels... well, ok for glassware maybe...

Practice rolling a cotton bud over a coin, so it doesn't rub. Then when you got the wrist action right, dip it in acetone, and practice some more.

Never ever ever rub a dry anything on a coin.

r9453 · August 30, 2013, 09:55:29 PM

Quote from: 'Fulvio' pid='26616' dateline='1377857233'
Quote from: 'error hunter' pid='26612' dateline='1377856434'is that bad???

Dry is always bad. Rubbing is bad. Tea towels... well, ok for glassware maybe...

Practice rolling a cotton bud over a coin, so it doesn't rub. Then when you got the wrist action right, dip it in acetone, and practice some more.

Never ever ever rub a dry anything on a coin.

I was afraid he was gonna say that. I had this vague idea that a diamond could scratch glass but a glass could not touch diamond. And maybe the same would apply to coins. :nea:

I'll take a stab in the dark here, any piece of cloth one might choose to rub/canoodle a coin with is likely contacted/contaminated with abrasives that can potentially have negative impact on the coin?

wwwww · August 31, 2013, 01:14:45 PM

Quote from: 'r9453' pid='26640' dateline='1377865529'
Quote from: 'Fulvio' pid='26616' dateline='1377857233'
Quote from: 'error hunter' pid='26612' dateline='1377856434'is that bad???

Dry is always bad. Rubbing is bad. Tea towels... well, ok for glassware maybe...

Practice rolling a cotton bud over a coin, so it doesn't rub. Then when you got the wrist action right, dip it in acetone, and practice some more.

Never ever ever rub a dry anything on a coin.

I was afraid he was gonna say that. I had this vague idea that a diamond could scratch glass but a glass could not touch diamond. And maybe the same would apply to coins. :nea:

I'll take a stab in the dark here, any piece of cloth one might choose to rub/canoodle a coin with is likely contacted/contaminated with abrasives that can potentially have negative impact on the coin?

The cloth itself scratches the coin. After wiping a coin, you'll see hairlines on it visible under a bright light. This dulls the lustre in the exposed areas and eventually destroys it completely.