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Coin washer keeps Westin St. Francis' change shiny (2010)

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Re: Coin washer keeps Westin St. Francis' change shiny (2010)

#11

Post by nlh »

asdf21 wrote: post #2

As a rare coin collector, washed pieces are worth far, far, less.. cleaning coins makes them shiny but also wears off important details. I can't help but be slightly mortified by the mass-cleaning of coins.. >Along with the coins, the burnisher is filled with water, bird shot to knock the dirt off, and a healthy pour of 20 Mule Team Borax soap. After three hours of swishing the coins around, Holsen uses a metal ice s…

Not sure who's downvoting you, but I came here to say exactly this, and you're exactly right!

All my numismatic spidey sense twitched when I read the story. I remember one of the first things I learned was that counter to instincts, cleaning coins with manual abrasives is bad bad bad.

Re: Coin washer keeps Westin St. Francis' change shiny (2010)

#12

Post by ISL »

Johnny555 wrote: post #6

Along with the coins, the burnisher is filled with water, bird shot to knock the dirt off, and a healthy pour of 20 Mule Team Borax soap Isn't bird shot typically made from lead? Are they coating the coins with lead?

It can also be steel, which is apt to work better in this context. Lead shot might actually mark up the coins.

Re: Coin washer keeps Westin St. Francis' change shiny (2010)

#13

Post by Aloha »

staticautomatic wrote: post #4
asdf21 wrote: post #2

As a rare coin collector, washed pieces are worth far, far, less.. cleaning coins makes them shiny but also wears off important details. I can't help but be slightly mortified by the mass-cleaning of coins.. >Along with the coins, the burnisher is filled with water, bird shot to knock the dirt off, and a healthy pour of 20 Mule Team Borax soap. After three hours of swishing the coins around, Holsen uses a metal ice s…

Why not just use a mild acid instead of an abrasive? I remember being delighted as a kid that ketchup made pennies shiny!

Borax isnt terribly abrasive though

Re: Coin washer keeps Westin St. Francis' change shiny (2010)

#14

Post by mikeyouse »

Johnny555 wrote: post #6

Along with the coins, the burnisher is filled with water, bird shot to knock the dirt off, and a healthy pour of 20 Mule Team Borax soap Isn't bird shot typically made from lead? Are they coating the coins with lead?

In California, lead shot was a contributor to the near extinction of the California Condor so it’s effectively banned for hunting purposes. You can basically just find steel now.

https://www.kqed.org/science/1944241/lead-ammunition-is-now-...

Re: Coin washer keeps Westin St. Francis' change shiny (2010)

#15

Post by newnewpdro »

Johnny555 wrote: post #6

Along with the coins, the burnisher is filled with water, bird shot to knock the dirt off, and a healthy pour of 20 Mule Team Borax soap Isn't bird shot typically made from lead? Are they coating the coins with lead?

They're probably using "bird shot" colloquially to describe what's really just a steel abrasive consisting of small metal balls.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_abrasives

Re: Coin washer keeps Westin St. Francis' change shiny (2010)

#16

Post by Johnny555 »

mikeyouse wrote: post #14
Johnny555 wrote: post #6

Along with the coins, the burnisher is filled with water, bird shot to knock the dirt off, and a healthy pour of 20 Mule Team Borax soap Isn't bird shot typically made from lead? Are they coating the coins with lead?

In California, lead shot was a contributor to the near extinction of the California Condor so it’s effectively banned for hunting purposes. You can basically just find steel now. https://www.kqed.org/science/1944241/lead-ammunition-is-now-...

It may be banned in certain areas but lead shot is still sold:

https://www.cabelas.com/category/104567580.uts?CQ_view=list&...

https://www.amazon.com/Magnum-Lead-Shot-2-25-Pound/dp/B001QV...

And some bans have been reversed:

New U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke on Thursday issued an order overturning an Obama administration ban on the controversial use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle used on federal lands and waters

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-interior-zinke/new-in...

But even if there were a ban, since this hotel has been doing this since the 1930's, they could still have a few hundred pound bags of real lead shot in the basement that they're using for this.

Re: Coin washer keeps Westin St. Francis' change shiny (2010)

#17

Post by [deleted] »

newnewpdro wrote: post #15
Johnny555 wrote: post #6

Along with the coins, the burnisher is filled with water, bird shot to knock the dirt off, and a healthy pour of 20 Mule Team Borax soap Isn't bird shot typically made from lead? Are they coating the coins with lead?

They're probably using "bird shot" colloquially to describe what's really just a steel abrasive consisting of small metal balls. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_abrasives

[deleted]

Re: Coin washer keeps Westin St. Francis' change shiny (2010)

#18

Post by owlninja »

Johnny555 wrote: post #16
mikeyouse wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In California, lead shot was a contributor to the near extinction of the California Condor so it’s effectively banned for hunting purposes. You can basically just find steel now. https://www.kqed.org/science/1944241/lead-ammunition-is-now-...

It may be banned in certain areas but lead shot is still sold: https://www.cabelas.com/category/104567580.uts?CQ_view=list&... https://www.amazon.com/Magnum-Lead-Shot-2-25-Pound/dp/B001QV... And some bans have been reversed: New U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke on Thursday issued an order overturning an Obama administration ban on the controversial use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle used on federal lands and…

Lead is still used for dove and clay shooting. I think in most places the steel restrictions only applies to waterfowl (may even be federal).

Re: Coin washer keeps Westin St. Francis' change shiny (2010)

#20

Post by shaneprrlt »

tecleandor wrote: post #3
asdf21 wrote: post #2

As a rare coin collector, washed pieces are worth far, far, less.. cleaning coins makes them shiny but also wears off important details. I can't help but be slightly mortified by the mass-cleaning of coins.. >Along with the coins, the burnisher is filled with water, bird shot to knock the dirt off, and a healthy pour of 20 Mule Team Borax soap. After three hours of swishing the coins around, Holsen uses a metal ice s…

Ah, but that makes your already collected coins more valuable

Lol, there's always a silver lining. :)
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