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 Replies: 10 / Views: 12,018 |
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New Member
United States
4 Posts |
Or more specifically how can I remove the "painted" finish that has been applied to Silver Eagles? I picked up a 2001 ASE at my LCS (how's that for Numi speak, LoL) and it has an appliqué of Dale Earnhardt applied to it. I only paid melt so I'm not out anything but I just hate the "painted" finish, not to mention I'm not a NASCAR fan either! I have been told that acetone would work but the guys at the LCS say that they've tried it in the past and it didn't work, someone else told me to steam it off, that didn't work either.  Anybody have any experience in removing the graffiti from coins? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1231 Posts |
PaintStripper will work, but not sure how much damage the chemicals will do to the ASE |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
I just did 5 painted ASE's from my LCS. I put each coin into it's own small glass jar with lid. (I use hot banana peper jars) I put about a inch of acetone into each jar with the ASE. Depending on the paint it can take a hour, or it can take 3 or 4 weeks. The harder ones I use a plastic tooth pick to gently prod the paint out of the smaller detailed areas of the coin. The hardest ones I have come accross are the computer printed paint labels .. these can take much more work to get them off. Using acetone has worked for me. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2335 Posts |
I bought 2 ASE's with Elvis plastered across the front for way less than melt a week ago. I ended up soaking them in acetone for a few minutes & rubbing the surface with my thumb. The decal/sticker/screen-print came off relatively easily. Rubbing with your thumb is probably not the best idea if you think ASE's have numismatic value. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I noticed you mentioned someone told you, not that you tried anything yourself. I suggest you first attempt Acetone and Distilled Water. Do all the precautions mentioned on many other post here. You can find them by using the Search Tab at the top and typing in coin cleaning, cleaning coins, Acetone, etc. However, prior to even Acetone, try just soaking in the Distilled water for a while. Use the water rather warm but do not boil. Then if nothing try the Acetone system. If all that fails, you may want to try Laquer Thinner, Mineral Spirits, Other paint thinners and even what is called a Paint Stripper. And a problem with all or most of those is the possible end results of discolorations on the coin. If all fails, remember you only paid melt so as a last resort, just melt that thing and sell as Silver.  |
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New Member
 United States
4 Posts |
Thanks all, the coin in question is currently relaxing in a cool bath of acetone. I'll see how it looks in the morning, or the next morning or maybe the next if need be!
I'll let you know if it works!
Edit: Acetone worked flawlessly, after about 3 hours it had softened up nicely, an old tooth brush lightly across the surface removed 95% of the paint. An overnight soak revealed that in the morning the remaining paint simply washed away.
Lessons learned: go with your initial gut feelings and use what you think will work!
Edited by John762
12/04/2011 10:03 am
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
 , John762! |
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Valued Member
United States
214 Posts |
Piggybacking off this topic, what would you recommend to use to strip chrome plating off a coin?
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1733 Posts |
This is almost a confession. I bought seven ASE's at a live auction that had the appearance of being violently attacked by a gang of smurfs and then worked over further by the crayola gang before being used as the bottom of a private stall by Pokie . They were so bad, the auctioneer didn't even know they were silver. He thought they were joke coins. Heck I thought they were joke coins, I never saw them from closer than 20 feet away. Paid two bucks each. Anyhow, they were silver. So I stripped them in a hot alkaline dip (which destroyed the luster totally) and then gold plated them. They brought an average of 23 bucks over melt last year. I guess the gold was worth a couple/three bucks. What else can you do when someone destroys them like that? |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
Piggybacking off this topic, what would you recommend to use to strip chrome plating off a coin? Sorry but in almost all instances of Plating a metal on a metal, not likely to get it off. Plating, usually done electronically, inserts one metal into the outer layer of the other metal and it is basically permanent. And if it does come off, it will take a portion of the outer layer of the original coin with it. Ever see those old Chromed Bumbers on cars where the Chrome starts to peel off? Those Bumbers show what happens when plating is removed. Those famous 1943 Lincoln Cents are plated all the time with Zinc, Tin, Chrome and the best one, Copper. |
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Valued Member
Australia
490 Posts |
I would agree the plating is not removable, I have gold plated quite a few Australian 50c coins with great outcomes, technically this is (I guess) defacing currency and illegal (at least here in oz). Back on topic, I was presented by a reputable dealer a silver lunar pad printed color coin without the pad printing - it was presented to me as an "error coin" at an extreme markup (more than 10x). After a little digging and some experimentation (although I haven't had the kahunas to try it with a silver coin yet) turns out a soak in acetone (100% mind you, not nail polish remover with all the other nasty chemicals in it) for a few hours means that you can slide the pad printing straight off without visable damage to the coin. As the dealer had made a special phone call to invite me in to see the "error" it was only fair that I made a special visit to let them know how this was PMD... Would be interested to hear others views on acertone baths and the effect on different types of metal coins. |
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Replies: 10 / Views: 12,018 |
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Posted 12/02/2011 10:23 pm
