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Daughters Inheritance

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Valued Member
LeAnn's Avatar
United States
429 Posts
 Posted 08/25/2006  12:11 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add LeAnn to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
Well, I've finally gone thru most of my daughters coins she received from her grandparents(on her dads side) She got(all circulated coins):
27 dollars dates from 1890-now
85 half dollars from 1918-1979
113 quarters from 1909-1976
97 dimes from 1897-1969
266 nickles from 1897-1969
240 pennies from 1871-1969
several canada pennies and over 40 silver certificates. Most coins are in books (some got wet & molded). Can I or should I take the coins out and rinse them with water to get the moldy paper off them? I'm probably not going to do anything until I can purchase new books to put the coins back in. Some time in the future I would like to finish all the books for her. Or she might have to do it herself when she becomes rich & famous.lol That might be the only way it gets done.
LeAnn
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Prethen's Avatar
United States
3234 Posts
 Posted 08/25/2006  12:22 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Prethen to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Do NOT clean any of them!!! You will destroy any potential value of the coins if they are improperly cleaned.

Technically, there is a way to "properly" clean coins, but this should be done only if the coin has PVC damage or something else that might cause the surfaces to corrode or continue corroding. Coins are worth much more money in their original/natural state. If you can, show your collection to someone who's a professional and in your area. What area are you in? You might get some advice from members here on this board as to who you might be able to see.

Sorry for getting on my soapbox, but it's a travesty when I see collections like this that get ruined by cleaning. That sounds like a very nice accumulation of material. Buy some albums/folders at your local coin store and enjoy putting some sets together.

Bruce
Valued Member
neuron's Avatar
United States
254 Posts
 Posted 08/25/2006  12:29 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add neuron to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Sounds like a fantastic start to a great collection! Good luck!

Regards,
~neuron
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dsking's Avatar
United States
2365 Posts
 Posted 08/25/2006  1:04 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add dsking to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Prethen I'm with you about NOT cleaning coins but, how would you suggest that she get the "moldy paper" off of them? I'm sure that others on the forum might have run into similar problems, especially with inherited coins (and damp basements, etc)...ideas from you?

Thanks!
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dsking's Avatar
United States
2365 Posts
 Posted 08/25/2006  1:06 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add dsking to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
LeAnn: Is there an 1877 U.S. Indian Head cent in that collection?

(I heard that snicker from you penny collectors out there)
Edited by dsking
08/25/2006 1:09 pm
Valued Member
LeAnn's Avatar
United States
429 Posts
 Posted 08/25/2006  1:10 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add LeAnn to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Sorry dsking, no 1877, one 1871 and one 1879.
LeAnn
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dsking's Avatar
United States
2365 Posts
 Posted 08/25/2006  1:14 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add dsking to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
quote:
Originally posted by LeAnn

Sorry dsking, no 1877, one 1871 and one 1879.
LeAnn

Bummer! Have you looked for any "key" or "semi" key dates on any of the denominations yet?

Valued Member
LeAnn's Avatar
United States
429 Posts
 Posted 08/25/2006  1:27 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add LeAnn to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I'm new to this so what are "key" or "semi" key dates? I feel lucky to have just gotten thru them one time to catalog what was there. I know some are worth more than others, is that what you mean?
LeAnn
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dsking's Avatar
United States
2365 Posts
 Posted 08/25/2006  1:34 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add dsking to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Here's a list of "Key" and "Semi" key dates that I use for a quick, down and dirty, reference guide. These are only for mid to late 19th Century and 20th Century. Hopefully I didn't miss any. I'm not assuming that you don't have a list such as this. I'm only making it available if you don't or others might not have it as well. I hope that you continue to have fun preparing the wonderful coins for your daughter.

Flying Eagle and Indian Cents
1856, 1861, 1864-L, 1866, 1867, 1868, 1869/9, 1869, 1870-1878, 1908-S, 1909-S
Lincoln Cents
1909-S, 1909-S V.D.B, 1910-S, 1911-S, 1912-S, 1913-S, 1914-D, 1914-S, 1915-S, 1922-Plain, 1931-S, 1944-D/S, 1955/1955, 1972/1972, 1983 Doubled Die Rev., 1984 Doubled Ear, 1995 Doubled Die Obv.
Liberty Head "V" Nickels
1883 with CENTS, 1884-1888, 1894, 1912-S
Buffalo Nickels
1913-D T1, 1913-S T1, 1913-D T2, 1913-S T2, 1914, 1914/3, 1914-D, 1914-S, 1915-D, 1915-S,
1916 Doubled Die, 1917-D, 1917-S, 1918/17-D, 1918-D, 1918-S, 1919-D, 1926-S, 1931-S,
1935 Doubled Die, 1937-D 3-Legged
Jefferson Nickels
1939-D, 1942-45 Silver Wartime Issue, with large 'P', 'D', or 'S' on reverse,
1939 Doubled 'Monticello' and 'Five Cents', 1943/2, 1949-D/S, 1950-D, 1954-S/D, 1955-D/S
Barber Dimes
1892-S, 1894-O, 1895, 1895-O, 1896-O, 1896-S, 1897-O, 1901-S, 1903-S, 1904-S
Mercury Dimes
1916-D, 1921, 1921-D, 1926-S, 1931-D, 1942/41, 1942/41-D
Roosevelt Dimes
1950-S/D, 1982 with no mint mark, 1964-D Doubled Die Rev.
Barber Quarters
1892-S, 1896-S, 1901-S, 1913-S, 1914-S
Standing Liberty Quarters
1916, 1917 T1, 1917-D T1, 1917-S T1, 1917 T2, 1917-D T2, 1917-S T2, 1918-S, 1918/7-S, 1921, 1923-S
Washington Quarters
1932-D, 1932-S
Barber Half Dollars
1892-O, 1892-S, 1893-S, 1897-O, 1897-S, 1913, 1914, 1915
Walking Liberty Half Dollars
1916, 1916-D, 1916-S, 1917-D Obv., 1917-S Obv., 1921, 1921-D, 1938-D
Franklin Half Dollars
1955
Morgan Dollars
1878-CC, 1879-CC, 1880-CC, 1881-CC, 1882-CC, 1883-CC, 1884-CC, 1885-CC, 1889-CC, 1890-CC, 1891-CC, 1892-CC, 1893, 1893-CC, 1893-O, 1893-S, 1894, 1895, 1895-O, 1895-S, 1903-O, 1903-S, 1904-S
Peace Dollars
1921, 1928, 1934-S
Pillar of the Community
Prethen's Avatar
United States
3234 Posts
 Posted 08/25/2006  1:58 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Prethen to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
One way to safely remove SOME contaminants from the coins is to buy some PURE acetone (from the hardware store...do NOT use nail polish remover) and carefully place the coins in a bowl/dish of the acetone. You can leave it in there for as long as you like, it will NOT harm the surfaces of the coin. You might try using a cotton swab (use only REAL cotton) and LIGHTLY rub/roll the swab over the contaminants to attempt to remove. The acetone will air dry very quickly, but you can pat the coin dry on a paper towel or cloth towel.

Let us know how this works for you.
Valued Member
LeAnn's Avatar
United States
429 Posts
 Posted 08/25/2006  1:58 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add LeAnn to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thank you, I've never seen a list before. This gives me a better idea of what I should look for when I move them to new books(when I get them). This forum and the people here are great. THANK YOU!
LeAnn

I won't be doing any cleaning till I show them to an expert. I know there is a coin dealer about 15/20 miles away. But his hours don't work too well with my work schedule. Some day.
LeAnn
Edited by LeAnn
08/25/2006 2:01 pm
Valued Member
bryanb1's Avatar
United States
128 Posts
 Posted 08/25/2006  2:15 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add bryanb1 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I only use two things to remove soiling from coins: water with mild soap and a soft cotton or terry cloth followed by a pat dry.

I have had luck with absolutely no adverse affects with a soft cloth that has a small amount of WD-40 (all natural)...I have sent coins in to get slabbed that would have comeback in a body bag with great results.

If you have a key coin, I definitely recommend a professional conservation service followed by slabbing. If the coins aren't key, try one of the two methods above.

Bryan
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biokemist6's Avatar
United States
12437 Posts
 Posted 08/25/2006  2:22 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add biokemist6 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
LeAnn, do you happen to live in the metro east area of Ilinois?
Valued Member
LeAnn's Avatar
United States
429 Posts
 Posted 08/25/2006  2:28 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add LeAnn to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Bryan,
Thanks for the tips.
Biokemist6,
Yes in Illinois.
LeAnn
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biokemist6's Avatar
United States
12437 Posts
 Posted 08/25/2006  2:32 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add biokemist6 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
If you are not too far from St. Louis, I can recommend my neighborhood coin shop to you for an expert opinion (only shop still located in St. Louis city). Their hours are 10am-7pm Monday, 10am-5pm Tues-Friday and 10am-3pm on Saturday. Just email me if you are interested.
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SsuperDdave's Avatar
United States
23522 Posts
 Posted 08/25/2006  2:40 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add SsuperDdave to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Another suggestion for the paper-encrusted coins:

Lay them in a saucer or shallow bowl full of clean water. Allow them to soak for a day or two. Then throw the whole thing into the freezer long enough for it to freeze solid. When it's frozen, take it out and let it thaw at room temperature. The soak/freeze/cool cycle should pull the paper (as well as any plain dirt) off the coins just as well as using soap, maybe better, and you don't have to use any foreign substance on the coins.

For anything not removed by this process, see Prethen's advice on acetone. The only thing I would add is, acetone is EXTREMELY flammable, far more so than gasoline, and must be treated with great respect to control explosive vapor. You can leave silver (the only metal I have experience with) in acetone for months at a time without harming it.
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