![]() This is why you will often see coins that have been pulled from the water with what looks like green crusting on them. Not only with the temperature induce the oxidation process, but other forms of bacteria and sea life can cause even more damage to a coin the longer it is exposed. The amount of time a coin spends in water will also play a role in how badly it is damaged. So if a silver or copper coin is left in the water in the Caribbean, it will corrode much more quickly than if it were left in the water off the coast of Alaska. Warmer seawater will speed up the corrosion process.įor instance, warmer water will cause silver to corrode more quickly than cold water. The temperature of a body of water will affect how quickly the corrosion of a coin sets in. This is because silver is a reactive metal that oxidizes when it comes in contact with water, whereas gold does not corrode.īut not all water is created equal. For instance, seawater is actually very harmful to silver coins, while gold keeps its shiny exterior regardless of the environment. The type of coin left in ocean water will play a role in how badly corroded it becomes. ![]() The saltwater causes corrosion, and the waves and sand can damage or destroy a coin. The ocean is a tough environment for anything made of metal, including coins. Do Coins Corrode in Water? Depending on the metal of the coin, water can certainly corrode coins much faster. First, let’s talk about what exactly happens to coins when left in the ocean so we know what we are dealing with. Especially if you’ve stumbled across a coin that is clearly valuable or has some historical significance to it.īut we will get to that in a moment. While using a rock tumbler is the more popular method of cleaning coins from the ocean, this isn’t always the right option. ![]() It’ll save you from having to buy more down the road.Īlso, take your clean coins, rinse them under some water and leave them out to dry. I’d first strain it, pat it dry, and then let it sit in the sun for a couple of hours just to be sure. When you are done with your tumbling, be sure to completely dry out your media before storing it away. It’s not uncommon to wait several hours for a rock tumbler to properly clean your coins from the ocean. Several hours in a tumbler is pretty common. Don’t be surprised if they need more time though. Then check and see the state of the coins. The time it takes to completely clean will vary depending on the amount of oxide or dirt, the type of liquid cleaner you used, and the kind of media chosen.įor most cases, I’d recommend running the tumbler for an hour. Once you’ve secured everything inside the barrel and start tumbling, all you have to do is wait. Dishwashing soap would work fine as well. Some people just use some hot water, while others opt for something a little stronger like CLR. Simple dish soap or some CLR will do wonders for cleaning your coins in a tumbler.Īs far as the liquid cleaner goes, you can use whatever you want. So after you add your coins, liquid cleaner, and media, there should still be room left for proper polishing. You should normally fill your tumbler up to 3/4 full. The amount needed will depend on the size of your tumbler. Stainless steel media is reusable, rust and corrosive resistant, and capable of taking a beating against the roughest of surfaces. But, the recommended tumbler media by most enthusiasts is stainless steel shot. Many different kinds of media are used like walnut shells, plastic pellets, sand, and even those tiny rocks you find in fish tanks. Media is the abrasive material you want to be mixed in with the coins to grind away all the dirt and oxide found on the surface. With your coins in the tumbler, go ahead and add in some media. Full credit to the rock tumbler image goes to This is a good practice for any cleaning method. When cleaning together, the copper color tends to bleed into the silver coins, giving you a nasty brown tinge to your would-be shiny silver. Just be mindful about separating out the copper coins from any silver you come across. So don’t be shy about loading up a handful for one go around. Barrels can come in all different sizes, depending on the number of coins you’re looking to clean at one time. To start, you’ll add your coins to the inside of the barrel. Using a rock tumbler to clean coins from the ocean is so easy and doesn’t require a lot of effort on your part. If you’ve found yourself a treasure trove of quarters, pennies, or any manner of crusted coins along the ocean, a rock tumbler is a perfect tool to get your coins cleaned up to a sparkling new finish.
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