Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Soldering coins

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2019
    Posts
    3

    Default Soldering coins

    Hi,

    I'd really appreciate any help or advice you can give me. I want to solder some small jump rings onto coins but I'm having problems with the silver coins due to heat burn. The copper ones are fine and come up lovely once I pickle and tumble them but any silver coloured coin - whether it be a sixpence or a current 5p - discolours at the solder stage and I can't seem to get it back to it's glory. I've tried dipping them in magic boric but it doesn't help, I've tried wrapping them in wet cloth but it drops the temperature of the coin so much the solder won't flow, I've tried to clamp something to the coin to act as a heat sink but so far nothing is working. I'm a very amateur solderer so any advice would be much appreciated. I'm using the cooksons easy silver solder in the syringe and a hand held blow torch.

    Many thanks in advance,
    Melissa

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    West Berkshire
    Posts
    660

    Default

    perhaps you should avoid trying to solder 'silver' coins and set them into a ring with prongs. Click image for larger version. 

Name:	DSCF1527.jpg 
Views:	5 
Size:	41.9 KB 
ID:	12158

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    1,844

    Default

    Coin are made from various alloys and they can be a problem to solder quite often you will need to polish after soldering, normally it is a better practice to mount coins in a bezel.
    I do not know about the UK, in Australia it is unlawful to deface a coin or a bank note that is current legal tender.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2019
    Posts
    3

    Default

    Thanks both. I could go down the bevel road but. would rather not. It's fine to add something to a coin here - just not to make a hole etc. Grateful for any further advice. Thank you.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Central London
    Posts
    8,845

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Posts
    1,086

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by MWilliams View Post
    Thanks both. I could go down the bevel road but. would rather not. It's fine to add something to a coin here - just not to make a hole etc. Grateful for any further advice. Thank you.
    Are you sure? It is still defacing to solder something to a current coin.
    Author: Pearls A Practical Guide
    www.pearlsapractical.guide
    www.Pearlescence.co.uk

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2019
    Posts
    3

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by pearlescence View Post
    Are you sure? It is still defacing to solder something to a current coin.
    Yes, I have checked. It is fine to do this.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Romsey
    Posts
    5,256

    Default

    Defacing coinage in the UK hasn't been an offence for some years. What is still an offence is "breaking up" coinage (after a specific date from memory, need to check). I've not found a clear definition of what constitutes breaking up, however (but it's probably hard to do...).

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Posts
    1,086

    Default

    I'm corrected. Just goes to show the value of the £ these days
    Author: Pearls A Practical Guide
    www.pearlsapractical.guide
    www.Pearlescence.co.uk

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •