Verdicare?

ninamason,
Thanks for posting the pic. It looks real nice. Be extra careful with the toothpick,they can scratch.
John1

mcshilling, thank you! I've already picked out some of the grime with the top of a straight pin--one of the ones with the teensy metal heads that have rounded edges. If you're careful to not touch the coin itself, this seems to work well. I used to use 'em for holding tiny bits of models in place when I built miniatures; I'm very familiar with using them for delicate work.

MDS, I'll have to see if my sis and bro-in-law are okay with me setting up a small worktable in their garage. Right now I live in a four-room apartment, so that's . . . not really happening. But all in good time, my pretty, as the green lady said.

Dave, it's all good. I'm wishing I'd taken a Before--how sweet would this look for Thad? It's incredible what was under there, undamaged!

John, thank you, and noted! If I switch over to toothpicks I will do that.

Upstate: I did another rub with a Q-Tip tonight and watched more "patina" lift. It's a shame that wasn't the true colour--it was, indeed, very beautiful--but I'm glad to have the lovely lady getting herself a bath.

Thanks for providing feedback on your VC experience!

As other experienced users have indicated, the true patina was hidden under a layer of gunk. VC simply removed what didn't belong.

Also, as others have stated, you have to very careful not to rub so hard that you take off the patina. I've had a couple coins that I got too aggressive with using a toothpick and rubbed off the brown in spots. It happens, it's all about the learning experience. The more you use VC, the better you'll get at conservation.

I don't think I'd argue with anyone over your success. Beautiful! I use Verdicare all the time.

Kena - if you get anywhere, send me a PM. I've been looking too, to no avail.

You would probably notice a change in color even if you soaked it in distilled water if the color was caused by gunk and dirt. I just soaked a IHC in distilled water in distilled water and spots that were brown turned green, exposing the verdigris eating through the coin. I noticed before when I soaked a large cent in distilled water overnight the edges around the devices were green. I thought soaking it caused it but it merely exposed it after the gunk was removed. Distilled water doesn't change a coin, it is just water.

Ben, did you ever have any luck? I'd be after some in the UK too.

Are the chemicals going to be legal to send through the mail internationally I wonder?