Hi! I have a couple of nice older 77mm copper/bronze (dont know which, but they aren't yellow) medals with the nice darker chocolate or mahogany color. But they also look like some dirt & general grime has built up on them. Also some green oxidation between the letters. I've never cleaned coins or medals before. I would appreciate any suggestions on how to improve their appearance.
What does dipping in acetone accomplish, wouldn't I still have to wipe or brush the medals off somehow. Does acetone affect the color? I don't want to screw them up; am I better off to just leave them alone.
Also a little off topic, but I have some proof jeferson nickels in an old album that have green (verdigris) on them. Would swirling them in acetone affect their shine or impair their status as proofs? Thanks.
Full Version: Cleaning Medals
I'm not sure how they make the patinas for some of the medals and how reactive they are.
I have one with some writing on it that I was planning to test some acetone on.
Some alcohol may also remove grime. But I'd be extremely careful. If you mess up the patina it probably won't come back.
I have one with some writing on it that I was planning to test some acetone on.
Some alcohol may also remove grime. But I'd be extremely careful. If you mess up the patina it probably won't come back.
I 'conserve' each piece I acquire by lightly rubbing the medal down with acetone on a cotton ball. I then lightly coat the medal with "Blue Ribbon" using a clean cotton ball. I let the BR sit for 10-15 minutes before light removal using jersey fleece or a cotton baby diaper ( preferably a clean one). I only do this procedure on my cast medals and struck medals with a matte finish otherwise you will incur hairlines on any struck medals with proof fields.
When I get bronze pieces they are usually inflicted with filth and grime as well as you can smell the PVC coming off of them from sitting in old flips....therefore, I consider what I do to my pieces as a conservation measure as opposed to 'cleaning' in order to deceive a future buyer.
It is not a known fact that metal contains a fair amount of moisture which, through time, evaporates. The 'Blue Ribbon' hydrates the metal back to it's original look in much the same way a hand-cream would work on dry skin. I have seen some dynamic changes with this process alone.
I don't know what to tell you about the coins but it would probably be better if you left them alone.
When I get bronze pieces they are usually inflicted with filth and grime as well as you can smell the PVC coming off of them from sitting in old flips....therefore, I consider what I do to my pieces as a conservation measure as opposed to 'cleaning' in order to deceive a future buyer.
It is not a known fact that metal contains a fair amount of moisture which, through time, evaporates. The 'Blue Ribbon' hydrates the metal back to it's original look in much the same way a hand-cream would work on dry skin. I have seen some dynamic changes with this process alone.
I don't know what to tell you about the coins but it would probably be better if you left them alone.
Hello friends of casted medals,
the only way to improve the appearance (not the quality) of casted medals is to "wash" them with rifle oil. In Germany I use "Balistol", a rifle oil with low acid content. An oil which improves the appearance of rifles cannot harm casted medals. But this oil can wash away partly the corrosion products of copper, which is one element in bronze. In case of strong oxidation one can improve the measures with a tooth brush, but with caution. In normal case the medal can be treated with a wad of cotton wool.
After treatment a very thin layer of oil should (or could) remain for further protection.
Incase of bronze coins one can use the same procedure, but even more caution is advised. If you have some coins of low quality, you first should make a trial. But please take into consideration: You can never produce a proof coin by polishing,
as sometimes some private dealers believe in internet auctions!
the only way to improve the appearance (not the quality) of casted medals is to "wash" them with rifle oil. In Germany I use "Balistol", a rifle oil with low acid content. An oil which improves the appearance of rifles cannot harm casted medals. But this oil can wash away partly the corrosion products of copper, which is one element in bronze. In case of strong oxidation one can improve the measures with a tooth brush, but with caution. In normal case the medal can be treated with a wad of cotton wool.
After treatment a very thin layer of oil should (or could) remain for further protection.
Incase of bronze coins one can use the same procedure, but even more caution is advised. If you have some coins of low quality, you first should make a trial. But please take into consideration: You can never produce a proof coin by polishing,
as sometimes some private dealers believe in internet auctions!This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.