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https://www.wikihow.it/Pulire-le-Monete-Antiche
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Knowing how to clean coins is useful for both experienced collectors and novices.Cleaning your coins can make the images on both sides clearer and remove dirt and stains that have accumulated over years or decades.However, if you do it the wrong way, you risk damaging them and devaluing them irreparably, so much so that in many cases it is better not to clean them at all or to limit yourself to using a mild soap.
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Leave old coins as they are. While it may seem counterintuitive, the best thing to do with a dirty coin is to simply leave it alone.If a coin is in good condition with only a few blemishes or blemishes on the faces, it will be worth more to a collector than if you clean it.[1]
- Almost any type of cleaner will substantially reduce the value of your coins, especially if one or both sides become damaged in the process.
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Have ancient coins analyzed by an expert. If you are not familiar with it, but wonder if your ancient coins are worth anything, take them to an expert before cleaning them, so he can confirm whether it is appropriate to subject them to cleaning;if they are rare or valuable he will most likely tell you not to clean them.[2]
- A numismatist, i.e. an expert in coins (and banknotes), will also be able to give you an estimate of the value of your coin:the more it is worth, the less reason you have to clean it.
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Only clean coins of low value or very dirty ones. If you have coins that are worth little and you don't plan on collecting them or selling them to a collector, you can clean them for purely aesthetic reasons.Furthermore, it is up to you to decide whether or not to clean particularly dirty coins:If a coin is so blackened or stained that the images cannot be seen, you may want to consider taking the risk of cleaning it.[3]
- If you are in doubt about a coin's value, whether it needs to be cleaned, or whether you need to keep it in a collection, always take it to an expert before attempting to clean it:It would be a shame to find that you halved the value of a rare coin by cleaning it.
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Never clean coins with abrasive or acidic substances. Although abrasive products are often advertised on TV or in stores as effective at cleaning coins, you should not actually use them, because the acidic components of certain detergents remove some of the material covering the surface of the coin during cleaning.Even though the coin will look cleaner and brighter, it will become damaged and lose its value.
- Likewise, you should never rub or scrape coins to remove stains or blackened parts:products such as steel wool or wire brushes will damage them irreversibly, causing them to lose their value.
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Clean old coins with water. Water is the only substance that allows you to clean coins without risking damaging their surface and devaluing them.Take the coin by the sides and run a light stream of warm distilled water over it.Turn the coin on itself to wet the other side too, then dab it gently with a soft cotton cloth:this way you will remove dirt on the surface without damaging it.[4]
- If you live in the city it is very likely that your tap water is treated with chlorine.Chlorine is a chemical element that causes discoloration of coins:To avoid this inconvenience, you should buy distilled water in a supermarket or use purifier water to clean your coins.
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Clean ancient coins in a light soapy solution. If distilled water proves ineffective in adequately cleaning the surface of a dirty or encrusted coin, the only harmless option available is to use a mild solution of soap and water.Pour a small amount of mild liquid soap into a large bowl, then fill it with warm distilled water, take the coin by the sides and swirl it around a bit in the soapy solution;then rinse it under distilled water and pat dry with a clean cloth.
- Don't use dish soap to clean coins, it's too strong and abrasive;instead, use a light, gentle detergent such as regular hand soap.
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Peel old pennies with ketchup. To clean a copper penny, squeeze a small amount of ketchup onto both sides of the coin;holding it firmly from the sides, gently scrub the flat surfaces with a clean toothbrush:[5] the salt and vinegar in ketchup will remove oxidation from the penny.Once this is done, rinse the clean coin under distilled water and pat it dry with a clean cloth.[6]
- The best results with this method are obtained on pennies minted before 1982, because genuine copper was used;pennies minted after 1982, however, contain zinc, which cannot be cleaned with ketchup.
- Be aware that ketchup is slightly acidic, so it may decrease the value of the penny.
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Clean old silver coins with baking soda. Start by rinsing the coin with distilled water, then hold it firmly by the sides;apply a small amount of baking soda on both faces using your fingers or with the help of a clean toothbrush and rub gently:the baking soda will remove stains and blackened parts from the surface of the coin.[7] Rinse it again with distilled water and pat dry with a clean cloth.
- This procedure is especially effective on very ancient silver coins, while it will give less satisfactory results on more modern ones, which contain less authentic silver (or none at all).
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Clean old coins with vinegar. White wine vinegar is a common cleaning agent that many use to clean metals, including jewelry.To clean an ancient coin with vinegar, pour 250 ml into a glass or bowl, then gently immerse the coin and leave it to soak at the bottom for a few minutes;then take it by the sides, take it out of the vinegar and rinse it with distilled water.
- If the coin is still stained or dirty, try brushing it gently with a soft toothbrush, but be careful not to scratch the surface.
- If, after a few minutes, the coin no longer appears clean, put it back in the vinegar and leave it for a few hours.It may be necessary to leave very dirty ancient coins soaking in vinegar overnight.
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Advice
- To prevent grease or dirt from accumulating on the surface of your coins, always hold them from the sides, avoiding placing your fingers directly on the front or back.
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