That was a fantastic video that a lot of us probably wished they saw years ago. I've tried all the methods myself. It's so true that you can't go back. The good thing is that I now "clean" my coins the exact same way you do. Get some dirt off the high points. Leave the low points dirty to highlight the details. I learned the nose grease trick too. I've actually taken completely thin worn slugs and gotten King George and Queen Britainica to appear. Amazing trick. Awesome video. I hope people listen. The coins sacrificed were for an excellent cause. Bravo
I’ve lost my two cent piece, my infantry button, another valuable button, a war of 1812 button and a bunch of other valuable m items I have found metal detecting, I am only 13 and am devastated because I can’t display anything good because everything good I’ve found I have ruined by electrolysis😖😫I’m truly devastated
Thanks. I just started metal detecting a week ago and I would have gone straight to a brush and water. Seemed logical to me before seeing this video. I really appreciate your doing this demonstration! Amazing.
I agree with many of the others here that you have done the hobby a great service with your double sacrifice. Personally, I am just starting out in the hobby. My first metal detector in 45 years will arrive this week (Minelabs X-Terra 505 - I had an old Radio Shack detector when I was a kid and loved it). The first thing I would have done was to break out a soft-bristled toothbrush, water and a touch of Simple Green to clean up any coins I might have found. You have taught me many lessons through your videos and I haven't dug a single thing yet. Bravo and keep up the good work!
Love it, just watched your newest dug-copper-care-video, nose greased a Halifax half penny I dug this morning(and I’m happy with it! THANK YOU) And was only listening to this vid while doing so, then looked up to see your younger self…caught me off guard..good werk! Appreciate all these years of education and fun (and other good words) Cheers!
Hi Beau! Thanks for such a great video! I've tried every method to clean copper coins and olive oil blackens coins to my dismay...Usually I leave them as is for fear of damaging them even further...Your method of cleaning coppers by rubbing your thumb on your face and rubbing the coin is amazing...It really brings out the details....Thanks a million for that great tip! Jason
Thank you! this has been VERY helpful. I'm just getting started with old coins. I've seen other videos on cleaning. I like your method better and if you ruin it "You can't go back". Plus you have a soothing voice.
Great Video !! I've been a treasure hunter for many years now. I ruined so many coins in the beginning because of my cleaning method(s). Thank You for taking the time out and showing some of your cleaning methods. Take Care all and Happy Hunting :)
Here is my cleaning tip. Put the coin in an empty pocket and leave it there for a few days as you go about your business. It will clean up beautifully.
I actually did this with an older silve Canadian quarter. They're notorious for having worn dates. I forgot the coin was in my digging pants for a few weeks. It sat in a dirty pocket with sand,dirt, blood, sweat, tears lol. Anyway, it ended up looking better than it did when I first dug it up somehow. I could even read the date.
Great video Beau! I have adopted your method now on all of my coppers. I just dug my oldest copper this past Sunday. It was a 1744 King George II. I toothpicked it and I am leaving it alone because it, in my opinion, is beautiful. I too have ruined many coins over the years by trial and error. Hopefully, this video will be seen by younger detectorists so they don't learn the hard way.
I did the soap and water last night on 3 quarters that I found in my yard thank God it was on most recently made quarters (1994, 1996 & 1999). I will not clean them again like I did, I will pick at them just like you did and leave them alone. Love the plain look. I'm new to this just started but I'm hooked! Great video!!
I think all of your videos are awesome my friend. Big fan of yours here. And I agree, I did like the step one coin best. I wish I had seen this video a few weeks ago when I found my buffalo nickel. Thanks for the knowledge buddy.
Great video, Aquachigger. This will absolutely benefit those who are on the fence whether or not to clean coppers. Thank you for sacrificing those coins for the greater good. Further steps that will ruin coins that I have heard of people doing are: Pencil Eraser. The eraser will remove environmental patina and will "shine" the coin. Baking Soda. This will clean down to the bare metal (ruins silver too). Lemon Juice. Even swishing a copper around in lemon juice for 30 seconds will remove up to 90 percent of the original coating. Try these steps (and Aquachigger's methods) on modern dug memorials to see for yourself how these methods change the coins.
Thank you for this very informative video that’s still helping people years down the line. I have just started recently and have ruined a couple of coins throw using Brillo. Seeing your jar made me feel a little better knowing that it happens to us all. Greetings from Sheffield in the UK. 😊
Beau, you are exactly right. I wish I had seen your video before I ruined my first indian penny 1863. It was beautiful coming out of the ground but not clean. I went to water, then oil, then vinegar then hydrogen peroxide and it never was good again. Completely messed up the coin so now I can't show it. I think the point you are making is that coins look best when they have a bit of the earthy elements to help provide contrast in the relief. If you've ever built detailed scale models you know this technique is called 'antiquing'. Great video. Keep 'em coming.
This is one of your videos that more people need to see. There are frequently questions or comments about the cleaning of coins or buttons. There should be a "Top 10" list of your most frequently asked questions. Not that you need any more work. 🙃
I used electrolysis to clean the old coins I found. Had been in the sea a while, came from an old bottle dump up on the cliffs. As you can imagine pretty much corroded to hell, but with a little electrolysis and a light rub with baking soda on my finger came out pretty good, I mean still junk by most peoples standards but I'm easily pleased. Love your vids Aquachigger, I'm only able to magnet fish now and beachcombe as I sold my detector so I could buy my boy a lego train set.
I totally agree with your method(s). Not that I find any old coppers, but I have ruined Indianheads by over-zealous cleaning methods. Very cool video, Beau. Thanks for taking the time to show us.
Novice collector. Don't ever do what he just did. I'm not a novice. And I have many years of collecting. If you have a question about your coins TALK TO A DEALER FIRST. The dealer will know everything there is to tell you about cleaning and NOT cleaning. Just don't do it. You run the risk of losing lots of money in a cleaned coin.
Great video! I don't detect so I wouldn't have even thought that a dirty coin could look so nice. I also had no idea that further cleaning would make some look so much worse. I only wish you had left the 1840 cent alone and did your demo on the other two.
I don't go digging or finding, but I watch your videos because they're interesting and educational as well as entertaining. To me not knowing anything about this neat hobbyist really astonishing that the dirtier coin is much nicer looking even to me a non coin guy... Thanks for the cool vids!
I completely agree with you; leave trace dirt to define it better. Thank you for the lesson. I am chagrined to admit that I washed dug Asian coins that went back as far as 220 BC. I so wish I had learned from you first! One other step you did not show is electrolysis, which I have never used and assume people use only to remove heavy corrosion, not mere dirt. By the way, some of those coins were embedded in "concrete" and/or clay that had baked, under heat and pressure in the ground, in Korea.
Thank the Lord..that I watched your video here, while I'm still new to metal detecting. I've found a few old Pfennigs from the 1800's....and tried to clean them to death...but ended up dissapointed.......Your words "once you go to the next step, you can never go back" will stay in my head from here on out ...which I will apply to all relics.
I have "ruined" my fair share of roman coins over the years. Oh some of them are pretty and shiny with no detail at all. I now prefer the "dirty" look! Great video Chigg !!
A tough lesson to learn the hard way. I remember helping my brother clean his 1864 2 cent coin with soap and water, and then soaking in lemon juice. when we were done you could not tell what it was let alone date it. Thanks Beau.
Good video Beau. When I dig coppers I rub them immediately on my trousers to get the dirt off and bring up the detail and then do no more with them. If you wash them in water they are ruined.. All the best, Rich.
bitsandpieces41 - RICHBISS Metal Detecting - Totally agree and this also apply to artifacts too ....... also you people who put oil on them in time you will regret it! I did and lost there looks for ever so leave them as you found them! and carry an old cloth with you I do.
AFTER you rub the coin with the toothpick you rub with your thumb which adds oil from your skin, that's what brings out the highlights.... The trouble with leaving it on is that it sets up "cells" under the scale that will continue to corrode. I was a drilling engineer (chemical drilling fluids). Part of my job was to stop corrosion from forming on drill pipe, any "scale" sets up cells that WILL conduct electricity and WILL continue to corrode your coin! I can measure the amount that will be lost, with no problem at all.....
there are many many people more learned than me. I'm not certain of the answer. In the drilling industry, the drill pipe can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, I would take a ring made of steel like the drilling pipe and install it in the pipe. The ring would have been weighed to the ten-thousandths of a gram, the time would have been noted and the ring would have been left in place for a few hundred hours, then removed cleaned and weighed. The difference in weight/time gave you how many pounds of metal would be eaten away from the drill pipe. Sometimes if the difference was high enough, the drill pipe would be replaced before if failed. I've seen pipe destroyed within a few hundred hours... But without the scale forming or immediately removing the scale, I do know that any metal even gold, given enough time will be destroyed.... Even moisture in the air is enough to set up a corrosion cell if the scale is present... I don't know what the answer for coins. I could stop the process dead in its tracks but the chemicals would probably cause a loss of collectors value for any coin. If the coin were in a vacuum there could be no corrosion but that is impractical. I wish I had the answer, an Oxygen scavenger could stop it from corrosion but again most of them are very poisonous. Again the easiest way is to remove the scale, a cell can't form without the scale.... I wish I could help more..... mike
Wow, thank you for this vid. We don't dig many old coppers where I am, Tennessee, but if I did dig one, the first thing I would have done is soapy water! You can bet I won't now
Thanks man. That was highly informative. Of course I say that while I have a quarter soaking in vinegar. Yes, I'm learning from my own mistakes as well.
Beau, I saw you have cats, so you obvious must have a bag of kitty litter somewhere. If it’s the good old type containing bentonite/clay you can hand grind some into a very fine powder and cover that second coin with it, leave it covered for a time and the oil will be absorbed, give it a finger rub and start as your step one. You might find you very close to being back to what you liked in step one. Worth a try.
downunderwest I think that is an interesting idea. I think I'll try it with some old indian heads I have to see if they look any better than they do now.
Very good, This is how it should be done.Great video.I have tried all different ways even electrolysis..You can't go back a step as you said,Totally true.. Thanks for sharing..
Thanks for the lesson. I'm always disappointed with my coins after cleaning regardless of the method. This helps me come to the realization that "less is more" when it comes to cleaning coins.
I think both of the first coins still look good, you might not be able to see the detail as much, but i wouldn't call it ruined. the third coin was pretty toasted to start off and now it really is. The truth here is is that its your coin and you can do what you want with it, the only person wo can call it ruined is yourself. Thanks for sowing us the process and outcomes for each method, very informative.
I usually clean my coppers by dropping them in a shotglass full of hydrogen peroxide that has been boiled in the microwave. Excellent results, as long as the coin has good stable metal under the crud. I then rub a thin layer of vasaline, brings out great detail.
@@undrehankins8693 It doesn't, 99.9% of copper coins are neither rare or valueable unless they're literally in near mint condition. Anything dug from the ground won't meet top collectible criteria in almost every case. Check the date and identify them first to be sure.......then do whatever makes you happy.
Thanks Beau, for a great "Learning" video on how "not" to clean our coins. Myself being new, I learned a lot. Also being in the Great NorthWest, I'm not sure if I will ever find a large cent. So either I will have to come out east or by chance buy or be gifted one. Thanks again for all your great videos and the time you put into them .
Thank you for taking time to produce this video. Your method is the best method AND it also works on old Flat buttons. Some Early 1800's-mid 1800 flat buttons have backmarks on them. If you do the exact same dry toothpick and face/nose oil method you will love the result when the backmarks come to life. Thanks Beau!
Im glad you made this video...I messed up a lot of coins before I figured it out as well. Now I do it the same way as you, but I use just a tiny bit of olive oil after the tooth pick.
Thanks for making the video, great info and advice. Will you be making more on how to clean other than copper coins? The down to earth, get straight to it, here is what to do and not to do approach is greatly appreciated. Would certainly like to see more.
When I was a kid back in the mid 80's I got a metal detector for Christmas. That summer my grandparents took me to a cabin site on their farm. I hunted the heck out of it and found all kinds of iron relics bits of the stove, square spikes etc. I was hoping for old coins of course so kind of felt disappointed. Anyway, while I was not finding coins, Grandma found a crusty nickel on the surface. We could not even see what type of nickel it was, so back at the house she put it in the sink and scrubbed it with a sos pad (steel wool for cleaning pots and pans!) After that we knew it was a 1935 buffalo nickel, but it sure looked strange! I later read that we shouldn't do that. Video made me think of that. :)
Thank you for doing this video, Chig. Henceforth, I will stop after the toothpick and face oil stage. That result shows the most detail, contrast, and patina. There aren't enough PSA Announcement videos for us detectors to help with our artifact cleaning. I've learned the hard way not to do the water thing.
Thanks! this video helped a lot. When I finally get something worth cleaning this will be a great reference. I had been wondering what would work and have tried a few cleaners. They are your coins do what you will, if it were not for you they would still be lost. I think your effort saved me a lot more coins. Lol
Hi Beau, I'm the guy from your Recent Detectival video who cleaned the Jetton in the field with water. After watching this I don't think I'll be using water on any of my copper or bronze coins from now on. 👍
I had another method that did benefit me when I sold a bunch of old Morgan silver dollars for my mother-in-law. I laid them in the bottom of a stainless steel little sauce pan with aluminum foil lining the bottom underneath. I sprinkled baking soda in there first. I brought them to a simmer for 2 minutes per side (sprinkled more baking soda on turned side ) and removed them from the burner. I left them in the water for 5 minutes I think then as I removed them I used a soft toothbrush with non-abrasive toothpaste to clean them. They looked brand new when I was done with no new scratches. Every buyer was pleased with how shiny and well preserved they looked. I never tried it with copper but it would be worth a shot to see on a less valuable coin.
Thanks a lot for showing me (us) the methods you use. I have been using soap and water on my coins the put oil on them. I was sways trying to find a better way... I think this method I'll use now!!
I'm very new to all this , I just started with wheat penny's this week, so thank you for this video. someone gave me a metal detector I hope I can get it to work. thanks again.
Thanks Beau! I haven't found any large cents yet, but if I do I am just going to use the toothpick method. Great information to know thanks for showing what happens!!
I liked the first one, but I did also like the second one after the olive oil. It showed me more of what the coin was like while in circulation. Depending on the initial quality of the coin, the olive oil rub would be the most extreme I would go. I think I cried a little inside with the third coin.
wow, less is more. very helpful, beau. i went even further and ruined an old penny with vinegar and salt after soap and water. i think there was some peroxide involved too.
hi I agree 100% with your cleaning method , Leaving a bit of mud in the deeper parts of the coin will really give you more details on the coins, I have made the mistake of over cleaning many times, but now i just leave them with a bit of mud for detail and beauty,, In fact for the times that i have over cleaned some coins there are 2 ways to go back and give the coins some details that was lost.. 1: oil the coin , wipe it down and spread some white baby powder on the coin.. Tack powder will replace the lost mud and give you back some details.. Let dry, wipe a bit and display.. 2: for cracked and lost coins like your 3rd one, I use brown shoe polish which is a wax.. rub and heat with hair dryer . wax will melt,, soak in cold water and rub off excess wax.. it should give you back some details and some home made patina,,,, I also dont recommend this for cons in good condition but for coins that you displayed in your video, these 2 tricks will do the job. Pierre
I watched this last night, and the face oil method totally grossed me out. But this morning, a buddy of mine and I went hunting, and I found an 1813 British copper token. I used the face oil method, and it worked BEAUTIFULLY. It totally works.
Excellent video and I appreciate you taking the time and sacrificing some coins for this. I am new to the sport and would have automatically used water before seeing this. Thanks again!
In my naivety as a new detectorist I’ve ruined a few old coins and I feel awful about it, but I’m going to try your suggestions on a 1905 Indian grad penny I found about an hour ago, this will be the first coin that I haven’t went strait to the faucet with!!! Thank you very much, hopefully someday I will find a large cent!!!
Really helpful - I always dumped old dirty coins straight into water! Oh DEAR - little wonder I was less than impressed with what was under the dirt! Very useful advice :)
Thank you so much for your video. I “ruined” my first couple of coppers because I went straight to water. Someone shared your bid recently and I’ve cleaned one IHP and now gorgeous colonial button with your method and they came out very well. I’m new to metal detecting and wonder if there are ways to restore some old nickels I found. I did already wash them as they were o e of my earliest discoveries.
![Blox Fruits Dragon Rework Update [Full Stream]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EqDAp8udhm0/mqdefault.jpg)
That was a fantastic video that a lot of us probably wished they saw years ago. I've tried all the methods myself. It's so true that you can't go back. The good thing is that I now "clean" my coins the exact same way you do. Get some dirt off the high points. Leave the low points dirty to highlight the details. I learned the nose grease trick too. I've actually taken completely thin worn slugs and gotten King George and Queen Britainica to appear. Amazing trick. Awesome video. I hope people listen. The coins sacrificed were for an excellent cause. Bravo
Yeah that Braided Hair was Gorgeous. Still a beautiful coin just lost some character
What is nose greese
I’ve lost my two cent piece, my infantry button, another valuable button, a war of 1812 button and a bunch of other valuable m items I have found metal detecting, I am only 13 and am devastated because I can’t display anything good because everything good I’ve found I have ruined by electrolysis😖😫I’m truly devastated
@@lukeg5184 don't worry lots of people wrong this
don't apologize, you taught all of us something. Even though it was at the cost of two coins; it was two for the sake of thousands in the future.
Thanks. I just started metal detecting a week ago and I would have gone straight to a brush and water. Seemed logical to me before seeing this video. I really appreciate your doing this demonstration! Amazing.
This video is a perfect example of why I love your channel. Keep up the great work!
I agree with many of the others here that you have done the hobby a great service with your double sacrifice. Personally, I am just starting out in the hobby. My first metal detector in 45 years will arrive this week (Minelabs X-Terra 505 - I had an old Radio Shack detector when I was a kid and loved it). The first thing I would have done was to break out a soft-bristled toothbrush, water and a touch of Simple Green to clean up any coins I might have found. You have taught me many lessons through your videos and I haven't dug a single thing yet. Bravo and keep up the good work!
Wow.. Its the first video on RUclips where the guy doesnt try to ruin the coins using acids and abbrasives! Respect!
I don't mind the face oil but that finger nail scraping was like nails on a chalk board :D
greg appelgren Agreed. I was yelling at my screen for Beau to stop lol.
***** It was bad enough lol
Same here!
That hurt my ears lol I had to mute the video for a second
Idiot
Love it, just watched your newest dug-copper-care-video, nose greased a Halifax half penny I dug this morning(and I’m happy with it! THANK YOU) And was only listening to this vid while doing so, then looked up to see your younger self…caught me off guard..good werk! Appreciate all these years of education and fun (and other good words) Cheers!
Hi Beau!
Thanks for such a great video! I've tried every method to clean copper coins and olive oil blackens coins to my dismay...Usually I leave them as is for fear of damaging them even further...Your method of cleaning coppers by rubbing your thumb on your face and rubbing the coin is amazing...It really brings out the details....Thanks a million for that great tip!
Jason
Thank you! this has been VERY helpful. I'm just getting started with old coins. I've seen other videos on cleaning. I like your method better and if you ruin it "You can't go back". Plus you have a soothing voice.
Great Video !! I've been a treasure hunter for many years now. I ruined so many coins in the beginning because of my cleaning method(s). Thank You for taking the time out and showing some of your cleaning methods. Take Care all and Happy Hunting :)
Clear and concise about the pros and cons. Very informative video. And to be able to visually see the difference, is highly appreciated!!!
Here is my cleaning tip. Put the coin in an empty pocket and leave it there for a few days as you go about your business. It will clean up beautifully.
Clever.
Will it remove fingerprints?
I actually did this with an older silve Canadian quarter. They're notorious for having worn dates. I forgot the coin was in my digging pants for a few weeks. It sat in a dirty pocket with sand,dirt, blood, sweat, tears lol. Anyway, it ended up looking better than it did when I first dug it up somehow. I could even read the date.
That is super cool advice
Uncle chill bill
Great video Beau! I have adopted your method now on all of my coppers. I just dug my oldest copper this past Sunday. It was a 1744 King George II. I toothpicked it and I am leaving it alone because it, in my opinion, is beautiful. I too have ruined many coins over the years by trial and error. Hopefully, this video will be seen by younger detectorists so they don't learn the hard way.
You found a George II coin? THAT IS SO FRIGGIN COOL!
I did the soap and water last night on 3 quarters that I found in my yard thank God it was on most recently made quarters (1994, 1996 & 1999). I will not clean them again like I did, I will pick at them just like you did and leave them alone. Love the plain look. I'm new to this just started but I'm hooked! Great video!!
Eyeopening!! I would never had guessed that leaving the light mud would make the coin more beautiful. This was a master class!
I think all of your videos are awesome my friend. Big fan of yours here. And I agree, I did like the step one coin best. I wish I had seen this video a few weeks ago when I found my buffalo nickel. Thanks for the knowledge buddy.
Great video, Aquachigger. This will absolutely benefit those who are on the fence whether or not to clean coppers. Thank you for sacrificing those coins for the greater good.
Further steps that will ruin coins that I have heard of people doing are:
Pencil Eraser. The eraser will remove environmental patina and will "shine" the coin.
Baking Soda. This will clean down to the bare metal (ruins silver too).
Lemon Juice. Even swishing a copper around in lemon juice for 30 seconds will remove up to 90 percent of the original coating.
Try these steps (and Aquachigger's methods) on modern dug memorials to see for yourself how these methods change the coins.
Thank you for this very informative video that’s still helping people years down the line. I have just started recently and have ruined a couple of coins throw using Brillo. Seeing your jar made me feel a little better knowing that it happens to us all. Greetings from Sheffield in the UK. 😊
Just starting in the hobby , This will defintly save my
coins from destruction .
Beau, you are exactly right. I wish I had seen your video before I ruined my first indian penny 1863. It was beautiful coming out of the ground but not clean. I went to water, then oil, then vinegar then hydrogen peroxide and it never was good again. Completely messed up the coin so now I can't show it. I think the point you are making is that coins look best when they have a bit of the earthy elements to help provide contrast in the relief. If you've ever built detailed scale models you know this technique is called 'antiquing'. Great video. Keep 'em coming.
I share this video about once a week with folks. Thanks for providing “real” content for the hobby.
This is one of your videos that more people need to see. There are frequently questions or comments about the cleaning of coins or buttons. There should be a "Top 10" list of your most frequently asked questions. Not that you need any more work. 🙃
Very cool. My 7 year old daughter collects coins. She enjoyed this very much.
Awesome information!!! Thank-you so much for the "Coin Cleaning Class" I'm so thankful for all of your experience!
I used electrolysis to clean the old coins I found. Had been in the sea a while, came from an old bottle dump up on the cliffs. As you can imagine pretty much corroded to hell, but with a little electrolysis and a light rub with baking soda on my finger came out pretty good, I mean still junk by most peoples standards but I'm easily pleased.
Love your vids Aquachigger, I'm only able to magnet fish now and beachcombe as I sold my detector so I could buy my boy a lego train set.
Thanks for the sacrifice, hope it helps some people learn the lessons that took you many years to realize (It helped me!). Much appreciated video!
I totally agree with your method(s). Not that I find any old coppers, but I have ruined Indianheads by over-zealous cleaning methods. Very cool video, Beau. Thanks for taking the time to show us.
Thanks for sacrificing 2 coins . Excellent video on cleaning and overcleaning !!!
Oh man..... great video and a great service to novice collectors and a fantastic service to old coins. Thanks for the instructions.
Novice collector. Don't ever do what he just did. I'm not a novice. And I have many years of collecting. If you have a question about your coins TALK TO A DEALER FIRST. The dealer will know everything there is to tell you about cleaning and NOT cleaning. Just don't do it. You run the risk of losing lots of money in a cleaned coin.
Great video! I don't detect so I wouldn't have even thought that a dirty coin could look so nice. I also had no idea that further cleaning would make some look so much worse. I only wish you had left the 1840 cent alone and did your demo on the other two.
Never realized this about cleaning, or in some instances ruining coins. Great video. Thanks for producing.
I don't go digging or finding, but I watch your videos because they're interesting and educational as well as entertaining.
To me not knowing anything about this neat hobbyist really astonishing that the dirtier coin is much nicer looking even to me a non coin guy...
Thanks for the cool vids!
Glad I am a beginner and have only wrecked a few by washing first!
Thanks for sharing this Beau, top advice.
Best wishes
Carol :)
I completely agree with you; leave trace dirt to define it better. Thank you for the lesson. I am chagrined to admit that I washed dug Asian coins that went back as far as 220 BC. I so wish I had learned from you first! One other step you did not show is electrolysis, which I have never used and assume people use only to remove heavy corrosion, not mere dirt. By the way, some of those coins were embedded in "concrete" and/or clay that had baked, under heat and pressure in the ground, in Korea.
Thank the Lord..that I watched your video here, while I'm still new to metal detecting. I've found a few old Pfennigs from the 1800's....and tried to clean them to death...but ended up dissapointed.......Your words "once you go to the next step, you can never go back" will stay in my head from here on out ...which I will apply to all relics.
I have "ruined" my fair share of roman coins over the years. Oh some of them are pretty and shiny with no detail at all. I now prefer the "dirty" look! Great video Chigg !!
Whata valuable lesson. I am so glad you made this video. I have ruined coins because I didn't know. Thank-you so much.
Great video I’ve just started and you’ve stopped me ruining anything I might find 😊
A tough lesson to learn the hard way. I remember helping my brother clean his 1864 2 cent coin with soap and water, and then soaking in lemon juice. when we were done you could not tell what it was let alone date it. Thanks Beau.
Good video Beau. When I dig coppers I rub them immediately on my trousers to get the dirt off and bring up the detail and then do no more with them. If you wash them in water they are ruined.. All the best, Rich.
bitsandpieces41 -
RICHBISS Metal Detecting - Totally agree and this also apply to artifacts too ....... also you people who put oil on them in time you will regret it! I did and lost there looks for ever so leave them as you found them! and carry an old cloth with you I do.
AFTER you rub the coin with the toothpick you rub with your thumb which adds oil from your skin, that's what brings out the highlights.... The trouble with leaving it on is that it sets up "cells" under the scale that will continue to corrode. I was a drilling engineer (chemical drilling fluids). Part of my job was to stop corrosion from forming on drill pipe, any "scale" sets up cells that WILL conduct electricity and WILL continue to corrode your coin! I can measure the amount that will be lost, with no problem at all.....
so what do you recommend Deserthunter Mike...leave the oil step out and just do step 1?
there are many many people more learned than me. I'm not certain of the answer. In the drilling industry, the drill pipe can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, I would take a ring made of steel like the drilling pipe and install it in the pipe. The ring would have been weighed to the ten-thousandths of a gram, the time would have been noted and the ring would have been left in place for a few hundred hours, then removed cleaned and weighed. The difference in weight/time gave you how many pounds of metal would be eaten away from the drill pipe. Sometimes if the difference was high enough, the drill pipe would be replaced before if failed. I've seen pipe destroyed within a few hundred hours... But without the scale forming or immediately removing the scale, I do know that any metal even gold, given enough time will be destroyed.... Even moisture in the air is enough to set up a corrosion cell if the scale is present... I don't know what the answer for coins. I could stop the process dead in its tracks but the chemicals would probably cause a loss of collectors value for any coin. If the coin were in a vacuum there could be no corrosion but that is impractical. I wish I had the answer, an Oxygen scavenger could stop it from corrosion but again most of them are very poisonous. Again the easiest way is to remove the scale, a cell can't form without the scale.... I wish I could help more..... mike
Thank you Deserthunter Mike I appreciate your thoughtfulness..
Mike Hale q
Thank you, Owen Wilson, for helping me clean my display coins, it was very helpful and informative
You are a very good teacher always sharing and helping us new guys watch your video.s from all over bless you and yours super thanks again.
I agree with stopping before the soap water brushing. Thanks for sharing.
That was a great video, you have stopped me from washing my copper coins in future, what a difference. Thanks Beau, have subbed you.
Great video Beau. We only use skin oil just as you did in the first step. Anything further than that is risky. We've learned the hard way too!
Very informational video Beau! Thank you, your videos rock my friend!
Very educational and great advice. Thank you for taking one for the team. Hopefully many coppah’s will be saved by this video. 😎⚒
Wow, thank you for this vid. We don't dig many old coppers where I am, Tennessee, but if I did dig one, the first thing I would have done is soapy water! You can bet I won't now
I watched this video before, but enjoyed it even more now that I have more detecting experience under my belt.
Thanks man. That was highly informative. Of course I say that while I have a quarter soaking in vinegar. Yes, I'm learning from my own mistakes as well.
Thanks Beau. A great demonstration on procedures to take cleaning a coin.
Beau, I saw you have cats, so you obvious must have a bag of kitty litter somewhere. If it’s the good old type containing bentonite/clay you can hand grind some into a very fine powder and cover that second coin with it, leave it covered for a time and the oil will be absorbed, give it a finger rub and start as your step one. You might find you very close to being back to what you liked in step one. Worth a try.
downunderwest I think that is an interesting idea. I think I'll try it with some old indian heads I have to see if they look any better than they do now.
Very good, This is how it should be done.Great video.I have tried all different ways even electrolysis..You can't go back a step as you said,Totally true.. Thanks for sharing..
Thanks for the lesson. I'm always disappointed with my coins after cleaning regardless of the method. This helps me come to the realization that "less is more" when it comes to cleaning coins.
I think both of the first coins still look good, you might not be able to see the detail as much, but i wouldn't call it ruined. the third coin was pretty toasted to start off and now it really is. The truth here is is that its your coin and you can do what you want with it, the only person wo can call it ruined is yourself. Thanks for sowing us the process and outcomes for each method, very informative.
Very good info. I would have never guessed water would damage them!
I usually clean my coppers by dropping them in a shotglass full of hydrogen peroxide that has been boiled in the microwave. Excellent results, as long as the coin has good stable metal under the crud. I then rub a thin layer of vasaline, brings out great detail.
This method isn't ruining your coins in the long run?
@@Zinzipinzi yes it destroys the value
How and why does it destroy the value?
@@undrehankins8693 It doesn't, 99.9% of copper coins are neither rare or valueable unless they're literally in near mint condition. Anything dug from the ground won't meet top collectible criteria in almost every case. Check the date and identify them first to be sure.......then do whatever makes you happy.
Heating H202 makes it basicly water. In other words, it becomes inactive
Thanks Beau, for a great "Learning" video on how "not" to clean our coins. Myself being new, I learned a lot. Also being in the Great NorthWest, I'm not sure if I will ever find a large cent. So either I will have to come out east or by chance buy or be gifted one. Thanks again for all your great videos and the time you put into them .
VERY iteresting video ! Thank you for taking the time and making the effort to share your knowledge with us ! :)
Thank you for taking time to produce this video. Your method is the best method AND it also works on old Flat buttons. Some Early 1800's-mid 1800 flat buttons have backmarks on them. If you do the exact same dry toothpick and face/nose oil method you will love the result when the backmarks come to life. Thanks Beau!
Thanks for making the video - very helpful especially for those of us new to the hobby and looking for expert advice.
I know this is an older video but it came up as a suggestion, and I really enjoyed the incremental process you followed. Beautiful coins!
Im glad you made this video...I messed up a lot of coins before I figured it out as well. Now I do it the same way as you, but I use just a tiny bit of olive oil after the tooth pick.
Im a newcomer to the hobby also and this was a great video for me, thanks chig!
Thanks for the good advice and taking your time for all of us with this and many other videos.
Thanks for making the video, great info and advice. Will you be making more on how to clean other than copper coins? The down to earth, get straight to it, here is what to do and not to do approach is greatly appreciated. Would certainly like to see more.
By far the best demonstration of what not to do to coppers coins!
When I was a kid back in the mid 80's I got a metal detector for Christmas. That summer my grandparents took me to a cabin site on their farm. I hunted the heck out of it and found all kinds of iron relics bits of the stove, square spikes etc. I was hoping for old coins of course so kind of felt disappointed. Anyway, while I was not finding coins, Grandma found a crusty nickel on the surface. We could not even see what type of nickel it was, so back at the house she put it in the sink and scrubbed it with a sos pad (steel wool for cleaning pots and pans!) After that we knew it was a 1935 buffalo nickel, but it sure looked strange! I later read that we shouldn't do that. Video made me think of that. :)
Thank you for doing this video, Chig. Henceforth, I will stop after the toothpick and face oil stage. That result shows the most detail, contrast, and patina. There aren't enough PSA Announcement videos for us detectors to help with our artifact cleaning. I've learned the hard way not to do the water thing.
Your reminding me of that guy who use to do those oil painting on the tv!
flipster420 Bob Ross.
Bob Ross 2018
Ohh Bob Ross and his happy trees.
RIP Bob Ross
Hahaha Good one!
Very helpful!! I'm kinda learning the same thing on restoring Stanley Planes. Age looks good on old stuff.
Thanks! this video helped a lot. When I finally get something worth cleaning this will be a great reference. I had been wondering what would work and have tried a few cleaners. They are your coins do what you will, if it were not for you they would still be lost. I think your effort saved me a lot more coins. Lol
I guess I ruined all my coins over the years. Wish I saw this sooner. Always went to step 3 first. Can I rebury em and go back to step 1? Lol
Thanks for the video and teaching! I agree that the dry cleaning is best and looks better.
Hi Beau, I'm the guy from your Recent Detectival video who cleaned the Jetton in the field with water. After watching this I don't think I'll be using water on any of my copper or bronze coins from now on. 👍
I had another method that did benefit me when I sold a bunch of old Morgan silver dollars for my mother-in-law. I laid them in the bottom of a stainless steel little sauce pan with aluminum foil lining the bottom underneath. I sprinkled baking soda in there first. I brought them to a simmer for 2 minutes per side (sprinkled more baking soda on turned side ) and removed them from the burner. I left them in the water for 5 minutes I think then as I removed them I used a soft toothbrush with non-abrasive toothpaste to clean them. They looked brand new when I was done with no new scratches. Every buyer was pleased with how shiny and well preserved they looked. I never tried it with copper but it would be worth a shot to see on a less valuable coin.
Appreciate the info and actual demonstration. Eye Opening! Thanks
Great video. I have ruined my share of coins with soap and water but no more! Thanks for posting!
Thanks a lot for showing me (us) the methods you use. I have been using soap and water on my coins the put oil on them. I was sways trying to find a better way... I think this method I'll use now!!
I'm very new to all this , I just started with wheat penny's this week, so thank you for this video. someone gave me a metal detector I hope I can get it to work. thanks again.
Thanks Beau! I haven't found any large cents yet, but if I do I am just going to use the toothpick method. Great information to know thanks for showing what happens!!
I liked the first one, but I did also like the second one after the olive oil. It showed me more of what the coin was like while in circulation. Depending on the initial quality of the coin, the olive oil rub would be the most extreme I would go. I think I cried a little inside with the third coin.
wow, less is more. very helpful, beau. i went even further and ruined an old penny with vinegar and salt after soap and water. i think there was some peroxide involved too.
Thanks for pointing this.. Myself I'm always use a petroleum-based degreaser, mixed with a citrus cleaning degreaser.. . Works badass...
Great video Beau ,plenty of great info !
hi I agree 100% with your cleaning method , Leaving a bit of mud in the deeper parts of the coin will really give you more details on the coins, I have made the mistake of over cleaning many times, but now i just leave them with a bit of mud for detail and beauty,, In fact for the times that i have over cleaned some coins there are 2 ways to go back and give the coins some details that was lost.. 1: oil the coin , wipe it down and spread some white baby powder on the coin.. Tack powder will replace the lost mud and give you back some details.. Let dry, wipe a bit and display.. 2: for cracked and lost coins like your 3rd one, I use brown shoe polish which is a wax.. rub and heat with hair dryer . wax will melt,, soak in cold water and rub off excess wax.. it should give you back some details and some home made patina,,,, I also dont recommend this for cons in good condition but for coins that you displayed in your video, these 2 tricks will do the job. Pierre
Bloody good vid bud !!!
👍👍👍👍
I watched this last night, and the face oil method totally grossed me out. But this morning, a buddy of mine and I went hunting, and I found an 1813 British copper token. I used the face oil method, and it worked BEAUTIFULLY. It totally works.
thanx for all your videos Chig, you da man!
Excellent video and I appreciate you taking the time and sacrificing some coins for this. I am new to the sport and would have automatically used water before seeing this. Thanks again!
I knew all that oil on my face would come in handy someday, now all I have to do is dig a LC. Thanks man, great advice!
In my naivety as a new detectorist I’ve ruined a few old coins and I feel awful about it, but I’m going to try your suggestions on a 1905 Indian grad penny I found about an hour ago, this will be the first coin that I haven’t went strait to the faucet with!!! Thank you very much, hopefully someday I will find a large cent!!!
Thank goodness that I found your video!
Thanks for the demonstration. Great nose oil trick!
Really helpful - I always dumped old dirty coins straight into water! Oh DEAR - little wonder I was less than impressed with what was under the dirt! Very useful advice :)
Thanks Beau! That was a great video and very informative. I will never ruin another coin again!
Thank you so much for your video. I “ruined” my first couple of coppers because I went straight to water. Someone shared your bid recently and I’ve cleaned one IHP and now gorgeous colonial button with your method and they came out very well. I’m new to metal detecting and wonder if there are ways to restore some old nickels I found. I did already wash them as they were o e of my earliest discoveries.
Thanks for showing this. I seem to alway clean everything off. But I like your presentation of the c not fully cleaned the details pop.