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 Replies: 22 / Views: 4,060 |
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Valued Member
United States
63 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4963 Posts |
The vinegar found a way through the plating and dissolved the zinc core in that area. The rest of the coin is protected by the copper plating.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1506 Posts |
There was a tiny opening in the copper plating. The acetic acid (vinegar) made it past the copper layer and quickly began to dissolve the zinc. What will be the state of these Zincolns 100 years from now?! Time will not be kind to them.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19249 Posts |
I'm a little puzzled why there appears to be no apparent reaction with the vinegar on the coin's surfaces, especially having been exposed for many hours. Hmmm. I'll have to try an experiment tonight.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
62064 Posts |
To me it looks like the edge had a split in the plating and the zinc was exposed and broke down. So the acid from the vinegar dissolved the zinc layer. So when pressure was applied to that area, it crumbled like a fender on a car during an accident. I've heard of people turning the coin into a copper colored Hershey's kiss wrapper, using acid with a coin with two holes on the edges of a zincoln, like your coin. So it is not a mint error, but PSD. |
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Valued Member
 United States
63 Posts |
Thanks for the info. I will have to set a timer for next time. I guess I can use this as a conversation piece.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19249 Posts |
All things being equal, it's generally not a good idea to bathe coins in vinegar.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1506 Posts |
@ijn1944 — vinegar is something like 5 to 8% pure acetic acid. A stronger solution would like have a greater effect on the copper plating.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
62064 Posts |
On copper coins it will turn them pink and it will take years to get the correct color back. Acid removes the mint fresh surface right off the coin. There is no getting it back. The harm has been done. If you are going to experiment, try using worthless change to experiment on.  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6514 Posts |
Quote:
All things being equal, it's generally not a good idea to bathe coins in vinegar. I agree... The only chemical that is safe to soak coins in is acetone. It will not affect the coin`s surface luster and will clean the coin of any organic substances. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19249 Posts |
I just dropped a fresh, very common shield cent into a glass container of culinary vinegar. I'll check on it later tomorrow. If anything interesting shows, I'll post a photo.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
62064 Posts |
If there is split plating on it, you might have a Copper colored Hershey's kiss wrapper in there tomorrow. Take some images of it and I'll add them to my files. Right now om my image host it say, 11,984. Soon to be 12K. Probably take a day or two to get there?
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
Looks like some one took a bite out of a chocolate coin .  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7090 Posts |
 someone said experiment?....  |
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Valued Member
United States
203 Posts |
This is interesting never heard of anything like that happening before. Sorry about your cent
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6116 Posts |
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Replies: 22 / Views: 4,060 |
Posted 05/08/2021 11:06 am
