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Steps in Cleaning of Ancient Coins

Collecting ancient coins is a fun and potentially profitable hobby. On occasion, you may find a coin dealer who's willing to get rid of a mass of dirty, ancient coins. Rather than cleaning them, the dealer will give them to you, let you clean them and possibly come across a coin or two of great value. Finding extremely valuable ancient coins is rare, but to many hobbyists, the act of collecting and cleaning them is reward enough.

Things You'll Need

Ancient coins
Distilled water
Soap
Toothbrush
Petroleum jelly
Cotton swabs

Instructions

- 1
  Acquire ancient coins, either online or through a reputable coin dealer. Be careful when looking for coins to make sure that at least some details are present. Never buy coins that are completely covered by dirt and patina.
- 2
  Fill a plastic container with a few inches of distilled water and a small amount of dish soap. Let the coin soak in this solution for a few minutes.
- 3
  Remove the coin from the solution and rub it gently with a soft toothbrush, being careful not to scratch the coin.
- 4
  Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to the coin with a cotton swab. Remove the petroleum jelly with a different, dry cotton swab. This should help to get rid of some of the patina.

Coin Collecting