FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board
Numismatic and History Discussion Forums => Uncleaned Ancient Coin Discussion Forum => Topic started by: feltemp68 on May 22, 2006, 06:59:44 pm
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I am new to collecting (about a month) and I have seen a thread started similar to this one but never saw a definitive response. The "mass produced" kit of old coins that I first bought recommended mineral (baby) oil over olive oil, it seems primarily because the author perceived that the olive oil causes the coins to darken. I saw responses on here saying that olive oil was fine to use on coins and there was no darkening, but I never saw any response on the relative merits of mineral oil.
Has anybody actually used mineral oil and compared the results to olive or other oils? I used mineral oil to start mine per the directions on my kit, but I am thinking about starting a comparison group in olive oil.
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Olive oil is slightly acidic, so it will clean faster. Mineral oil will also soften dirt and encrustations, but over a longer time frame. As far as darkening coins, olive oil will definatly do this over a long period of time. I personally like the result. Others may not.............. Chuck T