Dig Colonial or Go Home

Cleaning Advice from Tony Mantia

My name is Tony Mantia, aka Bell-Two. I’ve started into my 17th year of metal detecting. I live in Southwest Ohio in the Dayton area. I am a member of the Dayton Diggers club and am primarily a field hunter.

Here is the procedure I have used for cleaning dug coins using Arm & Hammer Washing Soda. Included below are pictures of product and the steps to follow for success. I have used this cleaning process on clad coins and while it does help it is really works much better on silver coins. Included are before and after pictures of a Seated Quarter which was cleaned using this method. The coin was dug from beneath a huge maple tree root. The seated quarter was black from the hundred years or so from the sap and ground conditions when it was found.

1. In a glass dish, place a strip of aluminum foil.
2. Place the coin you would like to clean into the dish.
3. Take two tablespoons of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (This is not baking soda. It can be found in the detergent aisle of most stores.) 
4. Cover the coin with the washing soda and then pour BOILING water on top of it. You need enough water to cover the coin.
5. Let it sit until stops bubbling. The black scale should come loose using this process. Repeat if necessary and pick the coin with a toothpick gently.