Green Stuff On Pennies - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 6 / Views: 11,958
Learjet Pillar of the Community Australia 655 Posts	Posted 04/11/2006 6:02 pm Copper sulphate? Anyway what do I do? I know cleaning is frowned apon but if I don't will the green stuff eat the coin more than what it already has? If cleaning is needed what method do you recommend? I've read water, detergent and a soft toothbrush might work. Image: greenpennyj.jpg 41.14 KB Report this Post to the Staff

RenaL Pillar Of The Community Turkey 1205 Posts	Posted 04/11/2006 6:53 pm if you ask me; blow a little air on the coin and leave it as it is Report this Post to the Staff
toast Pillar of the Community Australia 1091 Posts	Posted 04/11/2006 7:36 pm I have the same problem. Amd I got a few answers in this thread... https://goccf.com/t/4804 Report this Post to the Staff
Learjet Pillar of the Community Australia 655 Posts	Posted 04/11/2006 8:53 pm Ok thanks toast. Report this Post to the Staff
Sap Moderator Australia 16845 Posts	Posted 04/12/2006 01:59 am Regarding your question "what is it?", verdigris is apparently a complex mixture of copper compounds. Carbonates, sulphates, sulphides, oxides, hydroxides, anything odd like that in the air or environment can get sucked into it. Yes, it will continue to "take over" the coin unless you seal it in an absolutely airtight container and never take it out, and yes it is "contagious" - any other copper/bronze coin kept in contact with it for awhile will start to turn green too. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis Report this Post to the Staff
Learjet Pillar of the Community Australia 655 Posts	Posted 04/12/2006 04:11 am Sounds like horrible stuff. And to be honest it puts me off collecting coins that are most vulnerable to this "disease", at least for predecimal coins. Which coins are most "immune" to verdigris? I've seen it on post war florins also, I guess because of the copper content. So to speculate further I should be looking for coins with the least amount of copper in them? Like early pre ww2 silvers or to rid of copper completely the early sovereigns? If true I know that narrows my field down but that's okay as it also gives me a direction to concentrate on, if you know what I mean. The risk of verdigris kiling coin value is more of a risk than I want to take. Report this Post to the Staff
Sap Moderator Australia 16845 Posts	Posted 04/12/2006 07:14 am Most coins are relatively safe from the "green death". As you say, high quality silver is immune, and most of the modern alloys probably are OK too. It only takes hold fairly slowly on bronze coins. Pure copper coins are the worst for it; I understand that even the slabbing companies are reluctant to permanently certify their condition. Bronze coins normally only see it if they've been exposed to the open environment (buried, stored under the house, kept on the windowsill, that sort of thing) for awhile. Coins straight from circulation or that have been sitting nice and safe in a collection for years are usually quite safe. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 6 / Views: 11,958

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