AboutBrad Swain Expertise I have been a World Coin and Paper Money collector for over 40 years. I will be glad to answer any questions you may have on World coins or currency, tokens, unusual or unknown pieces and attempt to give you estimates of value and historical information about them in a polite and prompt manner.
Experience
Experience in the area: 40 years collecting coins.
An 'expert' here since 9/8/2000.
Education/Credentials: B.A. in History; B.A. in Geography.
I'm an ordinary 8 hour a day regular job guy and do this for fun and knowledge in my free time.
Question I have numerous German WW II coins dating from 1935 to 1943 many are zinc that are all grey. Is there any way to clean them and preserve them from deteriorating further? I also have aluminum coins can they be cleaned? Finally, I have a 1937 Russian coin that has a script figure E on front. What is it? Thanks Jay
Answer Hi Jay, The bad thing about zinc is that it develops white rust spots from reacting with moisture in the air that will inevitably consume the coin and destroy any value it may have. Collectors will avoid most zinc coins that show any signs of white rust.
Cleaning coins that leaves them shiny or scratched, even if only by looking with a magnifying glass, will reduce a coin's value by at least half.
All the Communist Russian coins had the Soviet symbol 1924-91.
If it is a kopek denominated coin of Empress Elizabeth (1741-61) then it would fit your description. What size and metal is it?
You might also try a library for a copy of the Standard Catalog of World Coins for pictures, values and lots more interesting info.
Brad
