How To Clean Copper Coins Found Metal Detecting

This is the best method of cleaning old copper coins that have been found buried in the ground while metal detecting, in my opinion. Many Youtubers immediately spray old colonial coppers and large cents that they dig with water and scrub the dirt and mud off of them with a toothbrush. I believe this to be a mistake, although I do understand the desire to immediately try to clean a coin for quick identification. In this video, I describe and show why should never do that if you want the best opportunity to be able to identify the coin. In short, if you really want to spray the coin with water and brush it to clean it, you can always do that AFTER trying this method if you are not satisfied with the results. However, if you go straight to the water spray and rub, you forever forfeit the opportunity to observe the results of this less harsh cleaning method. This is especially important with dug coins that are very worn and those with poor strikes. I enjoy metal detecting for historical items like