What Would Cause A Soaking Coin To Do This?

Well, this is it a further 24 hours later:




This is certainly a possibility but (not sure if I'm correct here) wouldn't that be dark in colour?


Optical illusion - it was just a build up of the substance on and around an 'O' in the reverse legend.


It was clean-ish but I thought the details could be brought out a little more with a bit of a soak.


This had crossed my mind also but as the above proves cant be a factor.


Again, definitely a possibility, I could have missed it if it was old and worn thin and I think I'm right in saying some weird and wonderful concoctions were used as coatings in the past. I will attempt to do as you say and dry some of the substance out.


Again, very possible, whatever the coating is it could be over 100 years old so could be some kind of weird and wonderful home made concoction.

I should be able to get my hands on some acetone pretty easily, not sure about the other two but will try.


Still no loss of metal or detail from the coin.


I should also add that the coin does not seem to be changing colour. I also think it may have been harshly cleaned in the past. It does not feel slimy when covered.

I'll keep you all posted

Scrub the heck out of it with a soft toothbrush or something similar.

Run under water for a long time.

Repeat step 1.

Then run under water for a while longer.

Repeat step 1.

Then soak it and see what happens.

The purpose is to remove all water soluble contaminants.



My first thought would be the coin composition itself was causing this, but contact with other minerals (natural or applied) could play a role.

Actually methylated spirits also has about 0.2& puradine in it.

If you don't believe me, put a tiny spoy of methylated spirits on the end of your tongue. It will feel as if someone is sadistically trying to bore a hole through it!
I tried that trick once as a kid. NEVER again!

Puradine is quite poisonous, but it won't kill you in the amounts that are added to ethanol to make methylated spirits. It is added to stop people from drinking the stuff.

The methyl alcohol is the dangerous one that caused so much trouble with people drinking wood alcohol. It issometimes known as 'ginger jake' during the era of Prohibition. That is why the puradine is there.

Famous saying:
"Make moonshine while the hay grows!"

Various booze is made in high school labs, with added phenylthaline. Didn't always stop kids from drinking it, but when a kid took potty breaks every few minutes, they knew the culprit.

I suggest soaking for a little longer if some of the substance is still on the coin, on the rim as you said.