Finding treasure while metal detecting is great, but getting it home and cleaning it up can be even better. You must take great care when cleaning gold, silver and other precious metals, especially older pieces that may have been buried for many years. follow these tips to best care for and clean up your newly aquired metal detecting finds!
Important note, check the date of your coins before moving forward with cleaning, the last thing you want to do is potentially damage a valuable date incorrectly cleaning a rare coin.
- Dipping: This is the best method for cleaning gold and silver, without using any abrasion. Fill a small glass or jar with an ammonia solution and let your find soak for a short period (a minute or two to begin) and wipe clean gently with a cotton cloth, repeat the process as necessary.
- Soapy hot water: most finds that don't have much history (like modern coins and trinkets) can be cleaned with a standard washing up detergent and a gentle scrub with a sponge. Be careful not to scrub too hard though, especially jewelry with set stones as they can become loose.
- Take your time: Probably the most important tip is to take your time while cleaning anything that may be valuable. These relics and old coins have survived many years buried in the earth, over cleaning and polishing may actually heavily devalue your find. Do research before committing to cleaning and polishing!