What would you do?

[Triggersmob]

Today,at work, I was given a bundle of coins by one of my workmates. He acquired them from a friend of his, who found them in a burnt out safe at the bottom of a river, while canoeing. They are very grotty. Now to clean or not to clean. That is the question? What would you do?



This is only half of them. They consist of Aussie Sixpences and Half Pennies, U.S., Indonesia, Japan, Netherlands, Singapore, Macau, Germany, Thailand, U.K. Philipines, Greece, Hong Kong.
 

[scottishmoney]

If they were in a burnt out safe at the bottom of a river, I would suspect they were part of a crime.  I would report it to the police, in the hopes that whomever owned these coins might could get them back.

[Topher]

Many of the coins that I can identify from that picture aren't really worth a whole lot, so I wouldn't be too worried about trying some cleaning.  OldDan's instructions look worthy of a bookmark.   

[longnine009]

Cleaning salvaged coins is, in most cases, acceptable and usually necessary. Of course now, one must never call them cleaned or salvaged. They are "curated." 

[Triggersmob]

Scottishmoney, I as told the coins were handed to the police, but nobody claimed them, so the person that found them, got them back after three months.

Topher, not all the coins are here, but the others seem to be not worth much too.

Olddan, thanks for those instructions. I tried it on one coin, but to no avail.

Longnine, I'm incline to agrre with you. cleaning  curating starts now.

[Triggersmob]

Just sorted the coins out, this is what I have...
Hong Kong
1973 10 cents

Great Britain
1911 Farthing
1975 5 New Pence

Germany
1972 50 Pfennig

Switzerland
1884 5 Rappen

Malaya
1949 10 Cents

Greece
1976 10 Drachmai
1990 50 Drachmai

Philipines
1966 10 Centavos
1959 5 Centavos
1966 25 Centavos

Macau
1973 50 Avos
1968 10 Avos

Singapore
1978 50 Cents
1967 10 Cents
1968 10 Cents
1969 5 Cents
1974 5 Cents
1976 5 Cents
1976 1 Cent x 4
1975 1 Cent x 2

U.S.A.
1965 (P) Quarter x 2
1970 (D) Quarter
1964 (D) Nickel
1976 (D) Dime
1977 (D) Lincoln Cent
1974 (S) Lincoln Cent
1962 (P) Lincoln Cent
1928 (S) Lincoln Cent

Indonesia
1973 100 Rupiah x 2
1999 100 Rupiah
1971 50 Rupiah x 5
1971 25 Rupiah x 2

Netherlands
1969 2 1/2 Gulden
1968 1 Gulden
1973 1 Gulden
1976 1 Gulden
1977 1 Gulden
1951 25 Cents
1972 25 Cents
1973 25 Cents
1976 25 Cents
1974 10 Cents
1973 5 Cents

Australia
1946 1/2 Penny
1954 1/2 Penny
1975 2 Cents
1976 1 Cent
1951 6 Pence x 3
1953 6 Pence
1955 6 Pence
1958 6 Pence x 2
1959 6 pence
1961 6 Pence x 2
1962 6 Pence x 5
1963 6 Pence x2

Japan
? 100 Yen
? 10 Yen x 4

China
As yet unidentified coins x 2

Thailand
? 1 Baht
As yet unidentified coins x 3


 

[Triggersmob]

Thanks for the info Olddan.

This is one I already owned, this must be a  small "S".


I compared it to the new one, the new one appears to be a large "S" .

[Triggersmob]

This is my favourite from this bunch of coins...

1966 Philippines 25 Centavos


This is the oldest...

1884 Switzerland 5 Rappen

[DL20K]

I see a Taiwan 1 dollar which is not on the list but is on the first photo. At the bottom, the one with a flower.

However, why would someone put these in a safe? Only two are pre-war..