CLEANING AND CONSERVATION (FAQ)

Golden rule: Not sure? Don't clean it! A dirty coin is better than a shiny "soap bar" full of pits.

🧼 Basic Methods

1. Water and Soap (Safe)

• Suitable for almost everything.
• Soak in a soapy solution (plain bar soap), then gently go over it with a soft toothbrush.

2. Cleaning Coins

• **Silver:** A baking soda or ammonia solution (be careful!).
• **Copper:** Boiled baking soda solution, soap. Don't use acids on copper — it will turn pink and crumbly!
• **Gold:** Just water. It doesn't oxidize.

3. Electrolysis (For Iron)

• **The idea:** An electric current strips off the rust.
• **You'll need:** A power supply, a container with baking soda solution, and a stainless steel anode.
• **Caution:** Don't use this on valuable coins — only on "iron junk" (horseshoes, axes).

4. Ultrasonic Cleaning

• Great for jewelry and clearing dirt from hard-to-reach spots.
• Can destroy delicate patina on old coins.

🏛️ Field Conservation

Found something cool?

• Don't rub it with your fingers (sand is abrasive).
• Put it in a box with soil from the find spot (so humidity doesn't change abruptly).
• At home, place it in distilled water.