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 Replies: 21 / Views: 3,827 |
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New Member
Canada
48 Posts |
if the acetone doesn't help I would glue that son of a mint onto my money clip, it would look pretty cool or just keep it as scrap silver
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
Might acetone help it?
Be very surprised if it doesn't. I'm not so sure about the toning, though - don't know if that's on the coin or the glue. It might be a problem later, which may be addressable. This one will require patience. Don't be afraid to devote a few overnight soaks. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3755 Posts |
What Dave said. Soak this girl for a good 24 hours, dump and re soak. It will take afew times to clean her up.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1291 Posts |
The REST of the story is that I found this and 4 other 1923s while helping ready my mom-in-law's house for sale. All five of them had this problem on the reverse, although THIS ONE was the worst of the lot. My initial guess was that the coin had lain in water or some other liquid while on a very flat, hard surface (like a glass tabletop) and had lain there until the liquid had completely dried. Sort of like they were on display and got wet without the display-er being aware of the problem until after they had dried. Upon looking closely through a loupe I cannot detect any substance clinging to the surface - it's just appears to be discolored/toned/tarnished.
I'll definitely give them an acetone bath and post the AFTER photos.
If this is a byproduct of laying in water will acetone still affect the appearance?
(EDIT) PS: When I found them, they were in an old purse along with some Morgans, silver halves and clad halves - sort of like loose pocket change!!
Edited by weerdsteev
10/18/2014 10:33 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1291 Posts |
Update: It's been soaking in acetone for a little over 33 hours now. If it's changed any at all, it's sure not much.
I'll leave it in there a couple more days.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1291 Posts |
Whoops! Completely forgot about this for over a week!! So it actually soaked in acetone for over 9 days. I don't see any improvement....  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1911 Posts |
I am not sure if this question would need its own thread but I have been curious about the acetone. I have always heard "Never clean a coin" but it seems many here recommend acetone for some coins. What does it do specifically and what (if any) difference is there between using acetone and "cleaning" a coin? Thanks all!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Acetone is an organic solvent that is neutral for coinage metals, it will only remove organic surface contaminants such as glue and oils and does not remove toning or harm patina. It's use is not considered to be "cleaning" in the bad numismatic sense since coinage metal is not affected, it would fall into the "conservation" category since its use prevents further harm to a coin from the presence of contaminants.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1911 Posts |
Ok thank you @biokemist! So last question on that topic, where would one get some acetone for conservation purposes? Do they carry at the local Walmart? Thanks again |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1158 Posts |
You can get it at home improvement stores like Lowe's in the paint solvents area. It's about $8 for a good sized can. You also need a glass container to work in (it melts plastic rapidly). It can also help to have some wooden tools to flip the coin and help pull it out of the liquid. Metal tools scratch coins and plastic ones, again, will melt.
Edited by tkbslc
10/29/2014 5:03 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1911 Posts |
Thank you for the advice tkbslc! I will definitely take all that into consideration. Now just have to find a coin or two "worthy" of the $8 can.
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
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Now just have to find a coin or two "worthy" of the $8 can. There are collectors - myself included - who rinse every single new acquisition in acetone. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1911 Posts |
@ SuperDave Oh that would make sense since it is conserving the coin, not "cleaning"... I gotta keep them straight. Does the acetone work on any coin? for instance on BU Presidential dollar coins the same stuff would be just as good as putting it on a 100 year old Lincoln Cent? |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:Does the acetone work on any coin? for instance on BU Presidential dollar coins the same stuff would be just as good as putting it on a 100 year old Lincoln Cent? Yes. In the case of copper, bright sunlight and the presence of water can cause a reaction, but as long as you don't mix the acetone with water (you don't mix it at all) and do the process out in your driveway at high Noon on a cloudless day, you should be all right. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1291 Posts |
Okay....so 9 days in acetone didn't dent this stain in the least. I can also tell you that "dipping" it isn't the answer either. (I did NOT dip THIS coin, but I did dip one of the other 1923s that I referred to earlier in this thread - and it did absolutely nothing to the stain) So, does anybody have any further guesses as to what this stain might be or what I might do about it?
@SsuperDdave: Your last comment could easily be taken out of context (and out of respective grammatical progression) to be interpreted to mean that you should, indeed, conduct the process outside in bright sunlight - which, I know, is the total opposite of what you're trying to say...
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Replies: 21 / Views: 3,827 |
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Posted 10/17/2014 10:43 pm
