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Replies: 10 / Views: 394 |
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Valued Member
United States
209 Posts |
I bought a 1965 Monnaie de Paris mint set from from a small auction site online. It wasn't a large expense, so I was not extremely thorough in evaluating before buying. As you can see in the pictures, it looks like there may have been some kind of water submersion at some point, maybe in a flood? When I look at the coins, especially the reverses of the silver 10 franc and silver 5 franc, I see small green spots. I don't know if these are from something in the water or if the packaging is vinyl. Does anyone know how to tell what the green spots could be, what to do about it now (acetone?), and whether it is ok to leave in the OGP or if I need to move them to something else?   
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Pillar of the Community

United States
3035 Posts |
You need to get those coin out of that holder and soak in acetone. I bought A few of these sets in that PVC holder. acetone did the trick for most of them. some where to far gone
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Moderator

United States
18841 Posts |
Good advice from @keith. Hopefully the PVC packaging has not ruined them.
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push." -----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed." -----King Adz
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
18337 Posts |
Looks like a soft clear PVC pocket strip has been supplied by the Paris Mint. That is a pity; I agree with the above comments. That means the packaging can't continue to be be used for the coins.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1138 Posts |
No doubt PVC packaging spoils coins. Green grunge is a result. I do a home self test on plastic to be sure it is PVC free. It can be common in cardboard holders with plastic windows.
Edited by Albert 03/07/2021 10:26 pm
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Valued Member
United States
209 Posts |
Is acetone ok to use on all coins, whether silver or not? It looks like some of the others have some green as well.
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Valued Member

United States
392 Posts |
I've had three of those. Two in the original box. One just the plastic. They all had that issue. Acetone will help. But may not get all of it. It will be easier on the silver coins. But also helps the other ones.
Between the three, I was able to rescue the equivalent of one set. I took archival plastic flips and cut them in half. Trimmed them down to the top of where the envelope starts. That way they were essentially the same size as the French plastic. I put one large coin per flip. Doubled up some of the small ones. Then slid those under the flap of the French vinyl. Which I had cleaned with soap and water. Then put the vinyl strip back in the box. That way I had coins that looked like they were in the OMP, but protect from the vinyl by being inside the archival flips.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
18337 Posts |
Acetone OK to use on any coin. It is only good for removing organic substances. Sometimes however, organic substances such as skin oils can leave permanent fingerprint stains on coins, and acetone will not remove those.
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Valued Member
United States
209 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
18337 Posts |
I remember spending silver 5 Francs coins way back in 1970 when I was on a camping tour of Europe. Handsome coins with slightly textured fields. Due to the memory, I have kept an example for my collection.
Never saw silver 10 Francs coins, probably because in a practical sense, they were never intended for circulation.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
593 Posts |
Quote:
Acetone OK to use on any coin.
I would tentatively add EXCEPT coloured coins. I haven't tried it but have heard acetone will strip the paint/ink off coloured coins.
Edited by David Graham 03/14/2021 9:50 pm
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Replies: 10 / Views: 394 |
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