Cleaning bronze and brass coins

Coins made of bronze and brass began minting quite recently and the most common representatives of these coins are coins of the USSR in denominations of 1, 2, 3 and 5 cents.

Cleaning brass coins electrolysis

This cleaning method copes with the removal of oxides and raids with the surface of the coin, but since the coin is made of brass (copper-zinc alloy) is in such color can be cleaned with a copper tint. Particular attention should be paid to the reliability of fixation of coins and the electrode during cleaning. The figure was a penny for cleaning the coins touch the electrode and thus short-circuiting. At the point of contact of the coin had a noticeable jagged (bottom right cante).

This penny 1969 has been cleared by means of electrolysis. The soda solution was used as the electrolyte, a power source - charger for car battery, a coin has been attached to the "-" to "+" electrode was attached to the stainless steel. Cleaning time - 5 minutes. After electrolysis, the coin was pounded into mush of soda.

Cleaning brass coins ammonia

Basically brass coins are stored well, but sometimes on the surface of the coin there are pockets of corrosion (green spots) and oxides are strong enough and does not remove them easily. Ammonia dissolves well-oxides and safe enough for bronze coins.

When removing coins from ammonia should immediately wash them in cold water, it needs to be done to eliminate the appearance of dark irregular spots on a coin, because the ammonia can be used not only for cleaning, but patinated coins.

Both of these coins were cleaned with ammonia. On the surface of the coins after the removal of green are deep caverns, but this hard to do something - time took its toll in a hostile environment.

Cleaning brass coins Trilon B

Trilon B, probably the best tool for cleaning brass and bronze coins. Trilon solution removes all oxides and does not interact with metal coins. Even after long-term presence in solution does not change color coin and is not destroyed. Solid oxides require a sufficiently long dissolution (several days), but this drawback can be solved by heating the solution.

Five kopecks USSR were cleaned off using Trilon B. Initially, the coins were not very dense oxides. Unfortunately, under the oxides it was heavily damaged by the metal coins and during the cleaning process opened a deep cavern. Yet the main purpose of cleaning has been achieved - complete removal of the green without damaging the pristine areas of corrosion.

Cleaning brass coins paste GOI

In general abrasive cleaning method is not desirable and not entirely suitable for the rare and valuable coins, but can be used to make low-gloss coins from the modern or very old hodyachki. On the value of the coins such cleaning effect is only negative, so if the coins ever to be sold then it is better not to brush paste GOI and other mikroabrazivami. As a result of such cleaning overwritten small details and this method is not suitable for medium or weak coins stored as the terrain may be completely destroyed.

To clean this coin was used paste GOI + a felt tip on the engraver (Dremel 4000, turns 10 - 15 thousand per minute.). 2 minutes from the coins were removed oxides and patina she began to shine like new. Gloss certainly beautiful, but it is not natural for the coin which for several decades.

Above all suitable cleaning method GOI paste for bimetallic coins, as with chemical cleaning problems can arise due to double-ended and then cleaning with microabrasive such problems can not be. The photo shows the result of the cleaning of bimetallic 10 rubles, for comparison, the next coin in roughly the same condition, but not shelled.