Olive oil for Aussie Pennies

[poorgee]

hi. Given the comments regarding water - I did have the thought of just using distilled boiling water (one coin at a time) - just immerse them to loosen /dissolve the organic stuff (no scrubbing just immersion in boiling distilled water) - Any thoughts on if this has a negative impact.

[JeffH]

Water won't harm coins and is a very good solvent but, won't remove a lot of the deposits that coins seem to pick up.
My suggestion, for what it is worth, is to soak in warm water with a couple of drops of detergent for a few hours. Then rinse with distilled water and pat dry with some paper toweling or a tissue. Beware brightly coloured detergents -the dies in them could actually stain the coin.

Any tar, chewing gum or similar sticky goo is best removed with a cotton bud and acetone -but be gentle and give time for the solvent to penetrate and soften the gunk. A wooden toothpick is a handy tool for removing the bigger lumps as you go.

[Fulvio]

immersion in boiling distilled water

Can you imagine the energy bill for months of boiling water? Cos that's how long it would take.

[poorgee]

Many thanks all. Appreciate it.

[Pedro]

$1 coins don't take kindly to our washing detergent - unless you like your coins multi-coloured! Water only for them.

Pedro

[WavyTwenty]

Thanks Pedro - planning on taking to some of my $1 coins and that just hit the spot.

$1 coins don't take kindly to our washing detergent - unless you like your coins multi-coloured! Water only for them.

Pedro

[trout]

Coins are a bit like the old vinyl records, Once scratched or otherwise damaged they are pretty much wrecked .
If you have a problem coin simply give it away, sell it  or put it in the "Far too hard" Bucket and get a replacement :ok:
Once a coin has been attacked by verdigris or PVC it is pretty much Buggered and unless it is a super rare coin isn't worth the effort IMHO.