AboutDmitry Livshits Expertise My specialty is world coins from the 18th to 20th centuries, primarily non-US foreign coins and related areas such as errors and exonumia (tokens, medals, etc.). I can answer questions relating to identification, grading, selling, preservation and evaluation of such items. In addition to catalog value, I can give you the practical market value and trends for specific types of coins.
I will also take questions regarding counterfeits (both modern and antique) and on how to identify them.
PLEASE NO QUESTIONS ON PAPER MONEY, ANCIENT OR "SHIPWRECK" COINS. Thank you.
Experience Collector of world coins since early childhood (age 4), dealer in world coins and related items for roughly 7 years (including the past 4 years on eBay). Access to a variety of auction records and reference material. You can also find me on Facebook.
Organizations Boy Scouts of America
Education/Credentials Regents diploma from Brooklyn Technical high school (2000), A.S. in Psychology (2004), A.S. in Mental Health/Human Services (2006), B.A. in Forensic Psychology (2008), Graduate study in Forensic Psychology (2008 - present)
Past/Present Clients I have had over 1,000 clients in more than 40 countries.
Question I have recently started to collect WWII Nazi coins and was wondering what the best way to attempt to clean up the coins (if at all advisable), from brass, copper and (I presume) tin/aluminium coins ?
Answer Hi Nick,
Cleaning is never advisable, since it destroys the collectible value. However, there are some weaker methods that will not affect the surface.
Nazi coins exist in Aluminum-bronze alloy (the yellow ones), bronze (the dark brown ones), zinc (the bluish-gray ones that often have white spots), aluminum and silver.
For all of the materials you mentioned acetone in low concentration can be useful. I would suggest using common nail polish remover, as pure acetone will damage the surface and cause irreversible discoloration on some metals. A 30 second soak, with agitation, will remove remnants of old glue and caked on dirt. It will also allow for slimy green "verdigris" to be wiped right of with a gentle cloth.
For zinc coins, which have those persistent white spots, there is not much that can be done. A 2 minute soak, with agitation, in pure lemon juice can minimize some of the white, but it would not be possible to get most of it off.
Coins that have an active disease, such as green or rust that cannot be simply rubbed off, cannot be cleaned without altering the original surface.
Please don't forget to rate this answer.
Thanks for the question! =)
