Summary for copper coin tumbling Discussion
Copper coin tumbling is discussed as a way to remove grit and reveal details, but the thread excerpt does not include a full technical answer or a recommended mixture. The question comes from Joey Warenzak, who found an old copper coin with a metal detector, soaked it in olive oil for two weeks, and still could not remove the encrusted dirt enough to read the date. He asked whether a tumbler would help and what mixture to use. The source shows the thread was answered by Milt Stevenson, Jr., a plating shop technical manager, but the actual advice is not present in the excerpt provided. Because the answer text is missing, the safest takeaway is that the page is about cleaning a copper coin by tumbling, but no specific process or compound can be confirmed from this source alone.
Q. I found an old copper coin with my metal detecter the size of a silver dollar. I wish to clean it enough where I can read the date and other important details. I have tried soaking the coin in olive oil for two weeks and have yet to remove the grit that seems to have encrusted my coin. I have a tumbler and have considered using it to clean the coin. What is the best mixture to use in the tumbling process?
Joey Warenzak
– Savannah, GA, USA
2002
 | A. Olive oil isn’t generally thought of as a good cleaner. I would suggest using a good cleaner/degreaser like Dawn dish soap and a relatively stiff toothbrush to remove the easy crud. Then try using some lemon juice to deoxidize the surface, but by all means don’t tumble the coin. Tumbling will only wear away the high points of the surface – eventually leaving a smooth (and unreadable) surface. Don’t leave the coin in the lemon juice too long, or it may start eating away at the copper. Hope this helps. Dan Brewer A. Old trick from “Hints from Heloise” try mixture of acetic acid ⇦ on or Amazon [affil link] and sodium chloride. If you can’t get your hands on that, try vinegar ⇦ in bulk on or Amazon [affil link] and table salt (same thing!). Nice deoxidizer for copper without harming your coin.
2002 |
