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 Replies: 20 / Views: 7,768 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
968 Posts |
Purple corrosion isn't unusual if the coin was in the ground or exposed to the elements for a long time. I wouldn't be surprised at all if that coin was a metal detecting find at some point.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3283 Posts |
Yes, the purple hue is accurate. I'd love to get it cleaned, it's got about 90% of the horn intact on the reverse.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1523 Posts |
I don't know if I would mess with it.He has character.If so, just a soak in white vinegar would do the trick IMO.
Edited by Halfwitty
04/26/2010 1:12 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3283 Posts |
Hey is it worth a premium for the unique toning  |
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Valued Member
United States
470 Posts |
Spend it ..and go get a better quality coin.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3283 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3294 Posts |
Spend it? Even with some verdigres, a 1916S nickel is worth more then $0.05
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Pending on what your plans are for that coin, you might try some experimenting. By plans I mean if your not planning on selling it, why not try some things to clean it up.
First try the Acetone method. You could do a search on this forum for all the methods of using Acetone including the rinse with distilled water. If still there you could try some of the many, many other coin cleaning methods constantly mentioned on this forum. However, remember that if noticably cleaned, the value goes down. But if your not selling that coin nor have any intension of selling it, then the amount of cleaning is up to you. The more you do clean a coin, the more the value drops.
Many people have stated they get great results with lighter fluid, tomato paste, lemon juice, Vinegar, battery acid, spit, kitchen clenser, wire wheels, pensil erasers and on and on and on. Most are just repeating what someone else said though and just want to pretend to know what they are saying so if you do try some of those, you still have a Nickel that is still worth a Nickel you know.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
968 Posts |
I can't see what acetone would do in this situation. It won't hurt anything, but as far as I understand acetone primarily removes organic residue and that isn't organic residue.
Vinegar or lemon juice will definitely turn the nickel silver again. I've done it many times. It may take up to 3 days or so and you need to wipe the coin from time to time. It will turn the coin red and then pink before finally becoming silver.
What it will not do is give you a glossy silver colored coin. It will be more of a rough silver-white finish. The question is if it is better than how it looks now. This a question of personal preference and what you think a buyer might prefer. There is nothing that I know of that will return the coin to a "normal" appearance. As a test I soaked a modern Jefferson in AU condition for 3 days. It came out with a matte finish but the details weren't affected greatly. I'd say it dropped a grade or so to XF, But if you are dealing with a low grade coin that isn't a big deal.
For most of my finds vinegar is better than leaving it alone because the ones I've found were in the ground, or worse yet, the beach since the days when Buffalos were in circulation. They are nearly unrecognizable. Yours is really borderline, so I have no opinion about what is the better strategy in your case.
Edited by Saruma
04/28/2010 10:14 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1934 Posts |
I thinkhope "spend it" was joking.
Be very sure and very clear about what you're going to do to that coin before you do anything to it because I think it'll look cleaned after you clean it no matter what you clean it with.
Can we see the reverse?
Jim
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3283 Posts |
I plan to keep this coin in my collection. I'm willing to have a cleaned coin but only if it looks and feels real otherwise. I held a restored buffalo head once and it was very light, porous and fake feeling. I don't want anything like that. I know this nickel is nothing great but I've become attached to it and am leaning toward leaving it alone. I was really looking to find out what the vinegar treatment does and what you all thought the results would be.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
968 Posts |
Did you see my other post? I made comments about vinegar there. It will get rid of the corrosion but there will be a rough, or maybe matte is the best word, finish to it. The color will be a whitish silver rather than the normal silver gray color. Here's what I would suggest if you are curious about vinegar. There are two different tests to try out. First, get a shiny new Jefferson nickel (since it has the same composition as a Buffalo. It doesn't have to be brand new, just make sure it is in nice condition with a decent amount of luster left. Put that in vinegar for two to three days and look at the results. That will give you an idea of the effect of vinegar on a coin as far as condition is concerned. Essentially it is the "control". Second, find a corroded Jefferson nickel. If you can't find one and don't know anyone with a metal detector I'd be willing to send you a few in the mail that I dug from the ground if you PM me. Now try the vinegar treatment on it. Once or twice per day you will need to wipe the coin to remove the corrosion that has been loosened. The coin will turn reddish at first, then pink and silver, and if you give it long enough (2-3 days normally) all the pink will be gone and you are done! The end result will give you a good idea of what the final result of the Buffalo will be. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3283 Posts |
Thanks Saruma, I will try the experiment
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
upstate, you must have not read BadThad or my post. I believe that there is a better way than putting this to acid. I could see if there was no date but I think you are going to make the value and appearance worse in this case with vinegar.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3283 Posts |
I'm sorry wheezydog I've been working on some projects. Anyway I did read your post and am definately interested in the vericare product. It appears to do a nice job on nickels without looking "cleaned". I've decided not to soak this one in vinegar, but I am going to play with some other junk coins with it. Can I purchase the vericare at the wizard coin supply?
Thank you all so much for your insight and information - Steve
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Posted 04/26/2010 1:05 pm
