Cupro-nickel cleaning????

[Chef Geoff]

Popped out to a site for 2 hours this afternoon only to find that the grass is growing really really well, too well in fact as it was nearly up to my knees. It was hard going and not much to show for it, but I did get 2 old pennies and a 1950 Half Crown out of the same hole plus 5 one pound coins so it paid for the petrol.

My question is about the half crown, being 1950 it missed being silver by 4 years and due to the normal acids in the soil it has stained that reddy brown colour. It is in very good condition other than that and although it is not worth anything I would like to try and clean it up without barrelling it.

So any ideas?

Che

[Gadget(Ian)]

hi geoff try linning a small plastic container with foil shiney side up put a teaspoon of soada crystals in it,pour hot water over the crystals and drop the coin in.you will here it fizz, it will clean most of the rubbish off.remove the coin after 10 mins and use a wooden coctail stick to rub the stuburn bits of dirt.repeat the process i use this process now and again for this type of silver works well for me.best of luck ian. 

[simon c]

Geoff,i know a lot of people will shun this method but it does work,as the coin has no value,try useing very fine grade wire wool,brush the coin in the same direction very gently,can be done dry or wet with washing up liquid,or you can use lemon juice or citric acid,word of warning though citric acid sometimes tarnishes the coin and changes it's colour pink or orange.Here are a few i've cleand sorry about the picture not great lighting.

[hedgehog]

They look good Simon, good advice there. A quids worth !