| Author |
 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,655 |
|
|
New Member
United States
3 Posts |
I have several rolls of silver dollars from my father. They were stored in paper coin wraps for a number of years. When I opened them to see what I had, I noticed they all have a grayish haze to them, which I understand is the result of acids in the paper.
Is there anything I can do to clean them up and restore them without doing further damage or lessening their value? How much does this condition lessen their value as they are now? I'm new at this so I'm not sure what to do at this point.
Thanks,
Zooks
|
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
8516 Posts |
Just curious but what kind of silver dollars ?
Oregon coin geek.....*** GO BEAVS ! ! ! ***
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4132 Posts |
a) Don't attempt to clean them.
b) Post some pictures and we'll have a better idea of what we're looking at in terms of value or damage.
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
220 Posts |
 Pictures would really help, pictures of the paper rolls that they were in too, if you still have them. |
|
New Member
 United States
3 Posts |
Thanks for the replies. Coins are in temporary storage and it may take me a while before I can get back to you. Will revisit the topic when I can.
By the way, I'm new here and haven't figured out all the possibilities. Does the forum permit pm's (private messages)? I did see on the user profile a permission to allow members to email each other. Wasn't sure if this is the same as pm's on other forums.
-zooks
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
19942 Posts |
Welcome to CC zooks!
The email system here works just like a PM on other forums.
Silver coins with haze are usually "dipped" using an acid-thiourea solution (i.e. EZest) by those wishing to remove it. Done properly, the results can be excellent....done poorly and the coin is ruined (up to 90% of the value lost). Like anything, it takes practice and skill to do properly. If you make a mistake, it cannot be undone and you'll be quite mad at yourself.....so....you might not want to try it.
|
|
New Member
United States
3 Posts |
Screw it up? That would be me. Thanks. I thought maybe something simple like a piece of soft cotton and toothpaste or Comet. Thanks for the heads up.
|
|
Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
The email system is not accessible to new members. That's a protective measure - we nuke someone every week for registering and then trying to email sales offers to people. Don't plan on seeing it before you reach 50 posts.
Do nothing "physical" to any of your coins, as in "involving physical contact." Do nothing "liquid" to your coins - not even soaking in water - until we've had a chance to talk about what's happening to them. Anything you do which is visible to an expert later will greatly diminish their value - coin collectors seriously value originality in a coin.
So, let's talk about pictures....
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
 Keep at this forum for a while. And also, use ethe Search tab at the top for things like cleaning coins, coin cleaning, etc. Many normally suggest dipping them in Acetone. Before you attempt anything like that, again, use the Search tab at the top for Acetone. There are usually all sorts of people that come up with all sorts of sure cures for cleaning coins. Basically if you do not know exactly what is what with coins, always best to leave well enough alone. |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
19942 Posts |
Listen to SuperDave.....definately do NOT use any household products on the coins! You will completely destroy all collector value and the coins will be worth silver content.
Show us some pictures. What you seem to be describing is simply called toning and most collectors like toning. It shows the originality of the surfaces and that's something collectors value.
|
| |
Replies: 9 / Views: 1,655 |
|
Posted 07/16/2012 12:37 pm
