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 Replies: 18 / Views: 2,917 |
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Valued Member
United States
60 Posts |
I have some coins with green stuff on them I've heard it called the green death before and I was wondering if it could spread to my other coins and if so will it only spread through direct contact or will it spread by just being near each other
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
I cant answer that for sure but just to be safe I would say to keep those coins away from the ones that dont have it
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12815 Posts |
Pictures please?
You're probably referring to verdigris and it's a type of corrosion, I believe. I think it has more to do with the environment in which the coins are stored than anything "contagious". But I'll let the experts answer definitively.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
If it is green slime it could be PVC damage. Over time as the chemicals outgas coins stored in PVC based plastics can develop a green slimy substance on them...Pics would help determine if it is verdigris or PVC slime.
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Valued Member
 United States
60 Posts |
I can't take any pics because my camera broke but it is spotted all over the coin and it is dark green
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
If it is hard it is likely verdigris...not much you can do about that, depending on severity...was hoping it was PVC damage...as it is much easier to deal with..
BTW, What is the coin?
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Valued Member
United States
60 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12815 Posts |
As amida17 said, if the green matter is hard, it's likely verdigris. BadThad, a venerable pillar of the community, has engineered a product called VerdiCare that will probably help you...assuming the coin is worth conserving. Do a search for BadThad or Verdicare on this forum and you'll find a wealth of knowledge and probably be able to identify for yourself if what you have is verdigris.
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Valued Member
United States
60 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12815 Posts |
Quote:
It's a penny And it's post-1982, I imagine? I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say throw it back into the wild. Or back into the wishing well from whence it came. Kidding...kind of. |
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Valued Member
United States
60 Posts |
Yeah it's a 1934 and imma keep it though most people would throw it away
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12815 Posts |
well, that's different. Might be worth saving if it's not too badly corroded. When you fix your camera or otherwise figure out how get a pic up here, post it and some of the LWC experts will tell you if it's worth anything. I'd keep it anyway since it's a '34 -- almost 80 years old - cool! |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Most pennies dated in the 1934 area worth less than a dollar pending condition. Spending any money to try to save that coin may end up costing more than the coin is worth. If no D under the date, there were about 219 billion made.
It's old though so may as well just keep it.
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Valued Member
United States
60 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2120 Posts |
Might have sentimental value.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19935 Posts |
Most likely is just verdigris. Verdigris can be categorized as light, moderate and heavy. The first two can be conserved while heavy verdigris cannot be removed without using harsh treatments that essentially ruin the coin. Verdigris can and will spread from coin to coin with direct contact. Chances of airborne transfer corrosion is very, very slim, but remotely possible given the right conditions. Always isolate corroded coins!
I agree with Carl assuming there's no sentimetal attachment. These can be purchased for under $1 in circulated condition without verdigris. I recommend you just replace the coin.
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Replies: 18 / Views: 2,917 |
Posted 06/11/2012 11:01 pm
