Roman Coin Cleaning

Make Sure Before You Buy

• According to a web-based seminar from NobleCoins.com, the first thing any collector of Roman coins should do before attempting to clean his coins is to make sure that his coins can be cleaned. Coins that are capable of being cleaned and displayed are coins that have details already showing through. Most lots of coins, such as those sold on eBay, according to NobleCoins.com, are ripoffs and do not lend themselves to being cleaned. Buy instead from reputable dealers.

Wash The Coins And Brush

• According to the Roman Coin Center, the first step in cleaning is to put the coins in warm water with dish soap--they suggest using the brand "Dawn" because of its grease-fighting qualities. Swirl the coins around for a few minutes and then remove the coins and gently brush them with a denture brush, which is a little stiffer than a regular toothbrush.

Soak And Clean The Coins

• Let the coins soak in distilled water for several days and then remove them. Clean the Roman coins by brushing at them and using tools such as a toothpick, a dental pick or even a straight pin.
  For those hard-to-reach places, Roman Coins Online suggests using a hot glue gun. Place a dollop of hot glue on the area with the hard-to-reach grime and then let the glue dry. Once it is cooled, pry it away from the face of the coin and it should remove the grime with it. Do not, however, use this technique on silvered coins and always practice the technique on low-value coins.

Stubborn Grime

• For the grime that just won't go away, it is suggested that the coin be soaked in olive oil or mineral oil for an extended time--up to a year, depending on the grit and grime. Once the coin has soaked, remove it and dry it with a clean cloth and then use the brushes and picks to work at it again.

  Always begin by soaking your coin for a few days or a week, before extending the soaking time. Repeat until the grime is removed.

Waxing The Coin

• Once the coin is cleaned, apply Renaissance Wax and buff it with a nylon brush or polishing cloth to bring out the shine.