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 Replies: 22 / Views: 4,095 |
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New Member
 Slovenia
31 Posts |
Good points, thank you. Some of the medallions are space flown so they are quite valuable. I believe the medallions produced by Fliteline may have the lacquer finish. They are otherwise in a great shape just a little dusty from the foam. Hopefully the distilled water will work...
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
 United States
12311 Posts |
Quote:
Some of the medallions are space flown so they are quite valuable This may be true for the European market - I am unaware of current trends there - but it is not necessarily the case in the US. I have seen many "space flown" medals sell for modest prices here. I realize that they are often hyped by online sellers - and that some collectors are taken in by the hype - but many such relic medals can often be found at coin shows and local coin stores for very modest prices (at least here in the US). It's also important to understand that claims such as "space flown" only require that a nut, a small piece of wire or something similar from the space vehicle be added to the molten metal used to create the medal's planchet. The claim does not mean that metal from the vehicle constitutes the entire composition of the medal's planchet. Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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New Member
Slovenia
31 Posts |
True, those are so called flight awareness medallions. However, some of the medallions were directly purchased and flown by astronauts. They are well documented and serialized. Those are rare, should I send them to the NGC for professional conservation?
Edited by Artemis737
11/13/2022 4:13 pm
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New Member
Slovenia
31 Posts |
The old (late 60's early 70's) disintegrated foam insert (probably) contains PVC, right? The best course of action would be to safely remove the foam in order to conserve the medals, correct?
The sterling medals are not coated, only the base metal ones are most likely lacquered.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6619 Posts |
Would, Denatured alcohol work here?
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Moderator
United States
189767 Posts |
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The old (late 60's early 70's) disintegrated foam insert (probably) contains PVC, right? I do not think so. First of all, PVC itself is not bad; damage to coins is caused by plasticizers used to make is soft and flexible. I am sure a chemist can elaborate or refute this, but I believe most foam materials are going to be okay. Certainly the foam inserts used for coin capsule and holders are safe. Foams are "soft and flexible" because they are aerated, so there is no need for harmful plasticizers. So even if they were made with PVC, I would not worry. |
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New Member
Slovenia
31 Posts |
Thank you. I read a book about the medallions which mentions the old foam inserts and that they may contain PVC. The author is not a chemist though, just a collector. Interestingly, some foam inserts are intact, but the older ones (by maybe 1-4 years) turned either to dust or are starting to show effects of decaying (e.g. stretching, discoloration, crumbling). Therefore, all medals are stored in the saflips.
Edited by Artemis737
11/21/2022 3:53 pm
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Moderator
United States
189767 Posts |
I should have added... Bad or not, I would definitely want to separate the disintegrating foam from the medals for aesthetics alone.  |
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New Member
Slovenia
31 Posts |
Happy to report that the pure acetone lifted most of the foam from the surface of the medals. Which solution would you recommend for medallions with a potential lacquer finish and with a foam residue on the surface? Will Goo Gone and distilled water afterwards work in this case?
Edited by Artemis737
08/18/2023 3:44 pm
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Moderator
United States
189767 Posts |
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Happy to report that the pure acetone lifted most of the foam from the surface of the medals. Excellent!  Quote:
Which solution would you recommend for medallions with a potential lacquer finish and with a foam residue on the surface? Acetone would likely attack the lacquer as well. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
25603 Posts |
Artemis737, I'm happy to hear that acetone has resolved most of the issue. But Goo Gone? That would not be my next step, because I have no idea what is in that stuff. Work your way up the solvent ladder.
Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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New Member
Slovenia
31 Posts |
It was observed by others that the base metal medallions seem to be covered with a thin coat of clear lacquer. They were made like that and I don't want to touch, alter the surface and/or remove the lacquer finish. The foam particles are stuck to the surface, acetone would probably quickly remove them, but would probably dissolve the lacquer finish in the process as well. Distilled water may not be able to remove much, that's why I mentioned Goo Gone and subsequent distilled water bath as a potential alternative. The ingredients in Goo Gone are Adhesive Remover include petroleum distillates (hydrocarbon) PPG-3 METHYL ETHER, KEROSENE (PETROLEUM), HYDROTREATED solvents, limonene (hydrocarbon), and orange sweet extract. The particles could potentially be removed mechanically by a Q-tip/distilled water rinsing too...
Edited by Artemis737
08/20/2023 12:46 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
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New Member
Slovenia
31 Posts |
Thanks, I found the info as well. Seems like a case for the NCS conservation...
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Moderator
United States
189767 Posts |
Professional conservation is probably the correct move. |
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Replies: 22 / Views: 4,095 |
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First Page
Posted 11/13/2022 07:26 am
