The E-Sylum:  Volume 5, Number 4, January 27, 2002, Article 12

CLEANING & LACQUERING COINS

  Ron Guth writes: "Here's a tidbit from the May 20, 1953
  Numismatic Scrapbook Magazine.  I hope the Smithsonian
  doesn't follow their lead.  Ouch!

  "Milwaukee Museum Collection Being Cleaned

  George Herrl of the Milwaukee Public Museum is engaged
  in the task of cleaning some 10,000 coins owned by that
  institution.  He states "collectors don't clean coins because that
  reduces their value some, but the purpose of the museum is
  different.  We are an educational institution.  The public gets
  nothing out of looking at coins that are so tarnished you can't
  see the inscription."

  After cleaning the coins are being lacquered.

  Silver polish and a sodium compound are used on silver and
  nickel coins and cyanide dip for the copper and brass."

  [Do any of our subscribers know if this collection still
  exists?   The museum's web site has information about a
  stamp collection curated by Herrl, but nothing about coins.
  See  http://www.mpm.edu/  -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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