How to clean Silver Coins

[tailormarc]

Hey guys, i found another way with bicarb/foil and boiling water works so well. Check this out. I tried this and it worked a treat

[video=480,360]https://youtu.be/2AgZOvN81vw[/video]

 

[DCSFINDER]

I find a little soak in cloudy ammonia works great! Wash them well after and the silvers shine.

 

[GemQ]

Best way to clean silvers is using melamine sponges

 

[GemQ]

Hope this gives people a few ideas on the best methods for cleaning (common) silver coins.

[video=480,360]https://youtu.be/mj6OlIsVBWM[/video]

 

[Diggertrev]

WOW that turned out great here I go lol

Well guys I took your advice on cleaning Stering silver in Foil with carb soda and what a result, took a few times baking in the water but cleaned up good

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/2527/1395577988_image.jpg
https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/2527/1395574880_image.jpg

 

[Diggertrev]

WOW that turned out great here I go lol

Well guys I took your advice on cleaning Sterling silver in Foil with carb soda and what a result, took a few times baking in the water but cleaned up good

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/2527/1395577988_image.jpg
https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/2527/1395574880_image.jpg

 

[LORD]

I have found the 50% silvers generally clean up better than the 925 ones.
Been experimenting with this 925 three pence and am struggling to get the black stains off completely. I have tried salt and vinegar, lemon juice, back to salt and vinegar, bi carb soda rub and even left it over nite in ali brite solution (scrubbing with a nylon brush all along)
I am happy to use this coin to experiment if anyone has other suggestions to try.

 

[Heatho]

Could try this one.

Soak in strong bi-card and water solution for 5 minutes and then wrap it tightly in aluminium foil.

Hold tight between your thumb and finger, coin will get warm, leave it like this for a few minutes and then rub with moist bi-carb again. Rinse and repeat if needed.

Do it outside as the coin will release rotten egg gas during the reaction.

Hope that helps.

 

[Smoky bandit]

If soaking inlemon juice for a week or what Heatho said dosnt work try boiling the coin in water let cool so you can touch it then rub with bicarb paste between fingers..If that dont work a low voltage electrolysis will for sure :Y:

 

[Danny13]

Could try a coin tumbler , but be careful when using the stainless steel media from China , as there are not really stainless steel cleaning media and turned a pandora pink metal colour. This is the result .

 

[Smoky bandit]

Could try a coin tumbler , but be careful when using the stainless steel media from China , as there are not really stainless steel cleaning media and turned a pandora pink metal colour. This is the result .https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/7482/1540336149_5a9a9c4a-9bcf-4c6e-b5a1-0de898c6f249.jpg
https://www.prospectingaustralia.co...6149_40f549d4-a40b-4dce-a567-f6e95ca42d02.jpg

Copper florins look good mate..will usually come off with a bicarb rub ...but I have never had them go that coppery....Looks nice mate :Y:

 

[Danny13]

Could try a coin tumbler , but be careful when using the stainless steel media from China , as there are not really stainless steel cleaning media and turned a pandora pink metal colour. This is the result .https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/7482/1540336149_5a9a9c4a-9bcf-4c6e-b5a1-0de898c6f249.jpg
https://www.prospectingaustralia.co...6149_40f549d4-a40b-4dce-a567-f6e95ca42d02.jpg

Copper florins look good mate..will usually come off with a bicarb rub ...but I have never had them go that coppery....Looks nice mate :Y:

Should Get a premium for them layful:

 

[Danny13]

Could try a coin tumbler , but be careful when using the stainless steel media from China , as there are not really stainless steel cleaning media and turned a pandora pink metal colour. This is the result .https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/7482/1540336149_5a9a9c4a-9bcf-4c6e-b5a1-0de898c6f249.jpg
https://www.prospectingaustralia.co...6149_40f549d4-a40b-4dce-a567-f6e95ca42d02.jpg

Copper florins look good mate..will usually come off with a bicarb rub ...but I have never had them go that coppery....Looks nice mate :Y:

Should Get a premium for them layful:

Ive got some porcelin cleaning beads from the gem shop - should do the trick

 

[Smoky bandit]

Could try a coin tumbler , but be careful when using the stainless steel media from China , as there are not really stainless steel cleaning media and turned a pandora pink metal colour. This is the result .https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/7482/1540336149_5a9a9c4a-9bcf-4c6e-b5a1-0de898c6f249.jpg
https://www.prospectingaustralia.co...6149_40f549d4-a40b-4dce-a567-f6e95ca42d02.jpg

Copper florins look good mate..will usually come off with a bicarb rub ...but I have never had them go that coppery....Looks nice mate :Y:

Should Get a premium for them layful:

Ive got some porcelin cleaning beads from the gem shop - should do the trick

Let me know how they go mate..was thinking of getting some of that porcelin beads as most of my sea silvers are really crusty and black underneath that crust.

 

[Danny13]

Could try a coin tumbler , but be careful when using the stainless steel media from China , as there are not really stainless steel cleaning media and turned a pandora pink metal colour. This is the result .https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/7482/1540336149_5a9a9c4a-9bcf-4c6e-b5a1-0de898c6f249.jpg
https://www.prospectingaustralia.co...6149_40f549d4-a40b-4dce-a567-f6e95ca42d02.jpg

Copper florins look good mate..will usually come off with a bicarb rub ...but I have never had them go that coppery....Looks nice mate :Y:

Should Get a premium for them layful:

Ive got some porcelin cleaning beads from the gem shop - should do the trick

Let me know how they go mate..was thinking of getting some of that porcelin beads as most of my sea silvers are really crusty and black underneath that crust.

Try a cap full of clr in the mix - really crusty run for a couple of hours should come out gleaming.

 

[Smoky bandit]

Copper florins look good mate..will usually come off with a bicarb rub ...but I have never had them go that coppery....Looks nice mate :Y:

Should Get a premium for them layful:

Ive got some porcelin cleaning beads from the gem shop - should do the trick

Let me know how they go mate..was thinking of getting some of that porcelin beads as most of my sea silvers are really crusty and black underneath that crust.

Try a cap full of clr in the mix - really crusty run for a couple of hours should come out gleaming.

Was worried about the chemicals reacting with the perspex....Aslo was thinking the porcilin beads might chew through it over time as well.Some cleaning powders also build up preasure and it leaks everywhere.

 

[Danny13]

Should Get a premium for them layful:

Ive got some porcelin cleaning beads from the gem shop - should do the trick

Let me know how they go mate..was thinking of getting some of that porcelin beads as most of my sea silvers are really crusty and black underneath that crust.

Try a cap full of clr in the mix - really crusty run for a couple of hours should come out gleaming.

Was worried about the chemicals reacting with the perspex....Aslo was thinking the porcilin beads might chew through it over time as well.Some cleaning powders also build up preasure and it leaks everywhere.

Yeah i found that the first time with the leaking , but the seal came good. Put in some detergent , acts as a sulfactant and should sort out any pressure build up fill a quarter of the tumbler with water . The only issue I have had is with the pink stainless steel media . If you were using clr over a 24 hour period , would not recommend it . Afterwards i make sure any clr is cleaned from the media also . I only use clr on the really black and crusty coins.

 

[Goldpick]

I just use cheapo aquarium gravel as tumbling media, you can buy bags of it from shops like cheap as chips - still an abrasive method, so be careful on which coins you chose to tumble. Have tried the foil method and found it sometimes has funny reactions with .925 coins, leaving a rough texture on the coin surface.

Electrolysis is the quickest and easiest method to clean the black oxidation, just have to ensure that your anodes are the correct way around, regularly replace the saline solution, and don't use stainless steel for anode sitting in the solution (toxic). You don't have to give it long using electrolysis, just enough to loosen the black oxidation and the final cleanup can be done with a light bicarb rub. 50% silver coins will not like Electrolysis, as the copper content will likely come out of the solution and re-coat the coin causing the "pink" copper colouring. If unsure, try it out on a few crappy coins first before diving in head first with any good quality examples.

I like to keep some rarer .925 coins as is, sometimes I prefer to see it in its original condition - adds to the nostalgia of the coin.

 

[LORD]

Great feedback all, thanks.
Here it is after 2 goes of Heatho's bi carb soak and then aluminum foil
It has definatley lifted some of the black, I will try SB's boiling water and then bi carb and post results.
Electrolysis will be a last resort as I have has poor results with that in the past

 

[LORD]

The trippy has had 2 dunks in boiling water and then bi carb rub, each time it was in the boiling water approx 5 mins and I was able to rub almost immediately after removing.
It has made a small difference but believe the bi carb soak and rub did a bit better.
Currently in another bi carb soak