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 Replies: 23 / Views: 5,600 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4809 Posts |
My focus would be on any of the coins that are lower mintage, semi-key, key, etc. Do the experiment on a common date coin. Maybe different approaches for coins in different states of corrosion. Once you have a coin to a respectable state, use Verdi-care or the like to slow the regrowth of Verdi/corrosion. Good luck.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4692 Posts |
Hmmm, never heard of a potato being used for this purpose. Perhaps the starch in it. I wonder if you boiled the potatoes and used the leftover water which will be full of starch it that would have the same effect -- same goes for starch from pasta. So if it is the starch, then the leftover water would probably accelerate the effect -- then you could also just spray household starch on them and see what happens. Of course I could be completely wrong and there is something else in the potato that seems to work.
In any event good luck.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
With the verdigris/corrosion being that heavy the surfaces of the coin will show the result of the corrosion/pitting after they are cleaned. There aren't any better dates in the group posted so it really doen't matter what he does to them. As they are they are worth at most about one cent if you could spend them and find someone willing to take them. After cleaning and removing the corrosion they might be worth Two Cents each. He has nothing to lose. He could use a wire brush on them and not hurt them. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1192 Posts |
Yeah the potato got a lot off but not all it. I can see the date and the mint marks now. They are pitted slightly but you can tell she collected them in a almost uncirculated state from the wear on the cheeks and wheat. I have a feeling I will just end up using a brass brush on them and giving them back to her son. I will post pics of different methods.
I tried the 1950 s first since we both had uncirculated examples of it in our albums already.
Edited by Bertensgrad
10/13/2014 11:16 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19968 Posts |
I agree with Conder, based on the heavy verdigris, these coins are goners. Also, the coins shown in the pictures are all common date. Personally, I'd dump them back into circulation and buy replacements. Regardless of any "sentimental" value, it's not worth the effort of cleaning. The verdigris is so heavy that details will be removed if harshly cleaned. Buy a new folder, put replacements in and give it back....they will NEVER know the difference.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1247 Posts |
you didn't hear this from me..... but, if you just want to salvage them to clean the junk off, dip in coin cleaner... it will ruin any value, not that there is any value, but it should clean them off.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8518 Posts |
I'm with BadThad, buy a new folder and put circulated coins in it. She'll think your the best coin conserver ever lol.
Oregon coin geek.....*** GO BEAVS ! ! ! ***
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2368 Posts |
This makes me kind of sad. I don't know what to say as far as cleaning, I've never seen environmental damage so bad. This is beyond acetone. Unfortunately all the value is lost.
That being said, I wouldn't get rid of the coins and replace them. It would mess with my conscience. I just don't know what to say, no collector will ever want them whether you clean them or not. I can't believe I'm saying this, but if cleaning them makes your friend and his mother happy, then do it.
There is no value to be gained or lost either way. Good luck with whatever you decide.
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Valued Member
United States
333 Posts |
I'd take them out and put them in a tube for her and explain that they are long gone. Then put together another whitman folder for her with undamaged coins. It's likely that the true sentimental value is the actual coins and she may want to hold on to those.
I don't advise lying to her about the replacement coins because if you lie, she may think that cleaning coins is a good idea and can be done without damage. In the future she might use this mistaken knowledge to destroy something truly valuable to the numismatic community.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4211 Posts |
I would give them an acetone soak then an oilve oil rub if the potato starch doesn't work. Anything will be an improvement but in all honesty they are goners for the most part.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1158 Posts |
I honestly doubt the sentimental value is THAT high to be worth all this effort. Make sure you aren't misreading the level of concern. I'd just say they are damaged and return them. Nothing you can do is going to make them not destroyed. You might as well tow a totalled car through the car wash.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1192 Posts |
No they aren't worth too much effort but she may eventually be my future mother in law and those pennies are the last thing she has from her childhood. Everyone one nows they are ruined.but it was solace to them that they wouldn't have had much value even in excellent shape. Mostly just getting them to the point where these was once coins.
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Pillar of the Community
New Zealand
526 Posts |
OK. This is serious.
Have you thought of shot-blasting with a soft material like Corn-Cob. (Corn Cob is a biodegradable blast media that will not etch or warp the surface being blasted. Ideal for applications such as thin metals and plastics.)
Acrylic is another material that can be used and is the softest plastic abrasive used for ultra-sensitive surfaces while still providing an effective strip rate. Often used for aircraft surface and delicate parts.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
655 Posts |
It sounds like you've already made some good progress cleaning the coins. I'd advise you to continue to clean them, using whichever of the suggested approaches seems to be working best, until they reach a point where you are fairly OK with their appearance. Don't over clean; in fact leaving them, and accepting them, as imperfect is your best bet. These coins tell a story as they are, they have a personality that no mint state coin will ever have. What will make the biggest difference is how they're displayed. A really nice album or even wall mounted frame is the way to go. Share pics of the end result.  |
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New Member
United States
40 Posts |
Have been told try a little dish detergent with warm water, but air on the side of caution and no heavy cleaning solutions. when in doubt leave alone.
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Replies: 23 / Views: 5,600 |
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Posted 10/13/2014 7:26 pm
