Cleaning to see mint mark

[Will]

I recently found this web site and like the wealth of information it has for new collectors.

I am new to collecting coins and I was looking for advice on cleaning circulated coins. I started collecting circulated linclon cents that I found in my change and sometimes I would get $20 in pennies from the bank go through them when the weather was bad. I have several with dirt around the mint mark and it is hard to identify over and repunched mint marks with the dirt. What way is recommended to clean the dirt with out doing damage to the coin.

[joeyuk]

It has been recommended to put some goo be gone on it and lightly roll a Q-tip over it. This substance dissolves the crud and the Q-tip just removes it. You do not want to rub the coin just allow the Q-tip to lift the dissolved crud. Joe

I just found this place not to long ago and there is alot we all can learn here.

[smed]

If it's just dirt, simple ol' soap and water should do the trick.

[coppercoins]

Not a good idea to purposefully expose copper to water, especially if it's still red. I have found that acetone works well for loose dirt on BU cents, and "Goo-Gone" (bought at Wal-Mart in the cleaning supplies section) works really well for circ cents. Do just as Joey says, let a soaked Q-tip roll around over the contaminated area and lift the dirt - don't scrub the coin.

[Bob P]

I can attest to the effectiveness of using 'Goo-Gone' to clean circulated coins. I discovered it quite by accident over 4 years ago, and no coins I have ever cleaned with it have suffered. As stated before...please be careful though, and do not scrub the coin with the cotton swap. the dirt loosened up by the goo-gone and entrapped on the swab will surely scratch your coins. Simply roll the swab over the loosened grease and grime to remove it.
Be aware that goo-gone is NOT a miracle solvent. It will not remove some difficult caked on grime, nor does it remove corrosion very well. It has been OK for me to leave coins sitting in the fluid for up to a day, but personal experiences say that it it doesn't come clean within the first 5 minutes, then that's probably all it will be able to do.

[rollmeupabe]

Bob,

After you clean a coin with goo be gone using a cotton swab how do you clean off the excess goo be gone ? If the coin is circulated is it ok to just rinse in water ?

[rollmeupabe]

My wife has declared me certifiably insane. Today I tried varied methods of getting goop off of my pennies. Acetone alone - not great. Goo Gone followed by acetone. Acetone followed by Goo Gone. Both ok but not the best. The best in my experience is still using a cotton swab and MS 70. For some reason that romoves goop that Acetone and Goo Gone don't even touch.

What really put my wife over the edge was when I used her hair dryer to make sure Mr. Lincoln was completely dry after his bath.

[Bob P]

Sounds like you've got some stubborn stains and goo on your coins that just isn't meant to be removed. Some coins just don't clean up real well. As far as using the goo-gone, if it has been a while, and the greasy stuff doesn't seem to be coming off with a q-tip, I use an old tooth brush. Don't be afraid to let it sit in the goo gone for a while, as it will not harm the patina. You can clean off the excess goo gone by blotting with an old towel or something. Don't wash it off with water as you are only inviting corrosion if you don't get it completely dry. I can't emphasize enough that you never want to scrub it dry, and the microscopic dirt particles you may have loosened up will scratch the surface. I also use a rose bush thorn (preferably green) to help scrape off some of the old gunk. Trial and error is the way to go. Practice on some old nasty coins until you feel comfortable with your cleaning methods.
As far as the hair dryer, I guess I would think you were a little weird too, so I guess your wife has company in that regard.

[lucky2]

Goo Gone has been tested by me the one that can mess up anything without even trying.
I applied Goo Gone to a dirty Indian cent, followed the Que tip directions, blotted off the excess with a paper towel. Only half the dirt came off but the coin looked good so I then diped it in Koin Solv. mistake, big one. the coin came out and was clear of the Goo Gone and was dry as a bone and the dirt was still there, it looked cleaned in an instant and I could not see the doubling on the coin. then I reaplied goo gone and blotted it dry. It gave the coin life and I again could see the doubleing. That was the 1891 Indian I posted yesterday. This coin has been cleaned sorta but still has dirt on it the color is a nice brown, it looks good and untampered with. From my short test I would have to say Goo Gone is the way to go as long as it stores well in an Air tite where it is now. Thank You everybody this has been a big help.
lucky2