1889-S Morgan With Varnish/Acrylic Coating? Help Grade/Ideas

Well, you did ask for a grade.

All the same, the way the thread has swung I agree, and we'll move it into the Classic Coins forum.

And, on your original topic, if you're going to give acetone a shot (something I'd agree with), please research the topic carefully here on the forum for usage and safety guidelines. We discuss it frequently and you'll have no problem finding everything you need to know.

To add a bit, for this specific case: If the acetone does the trick on that coating, you're going to want to change it quite frequently once it's started dissolving. Each individual soak will quickly reach the point (half an hour? An hour, maybe? Less?) where it can hold no more in solution.

Oh, and I'm seeing AU-ish details on this one.

Well here is an update:

(1) Use acetone? I have a few questions. First I am not sure this is varnish. What I have found is that it could be varnish, Lucite, lacquer, or acrylic. The thickness of the stuff I think is around 1/8" maybe a bit larger. I understand that I am to soak the coin for hours/days until that dissolves? I am happy about the fact that the acetone will not hurt the coin supposedly which is the good news. I will buy some pure acetone this evening and get a chunk of that stuff and put it in it and see what happens.

(2) Freezer - read that I could freeze it and then try to crack the material off of it. I am not sure about this one but it is feasible I think. Maybe I would need to dip in liquid nitrogen or use dry ice or something. This is a thought anyway.

(3) Heat - What would happen if I stuck it in the oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes? Would it loosen it up so I could get it off? This too is a thought.

What I have read is that NIC can fix it for me but I know not the cost and I am not a member nor is a dealer near me. Its a $70 coin to me as is, if I get the stuff off it could be a $100 coin. So in that case it is not really a huge risk. There are lots of stories on the Internet but no real pictures of before/after in a situation like mine.

Most of the coverings are a thin layer, mine is not. I really do not know for sure what it is as if Lucite would be clear as this stuff certainly is but it also has a yellow/brown tint to it, maybe from age.


I know that when I chipped a piece off it came off like a piece of glass. Its hard and it chips. I did notice that the piece I chipped did not go down to the surface of the coin it split off like a chunk of glass would do.


So I will try some things but would like to get some more opinions on just what I have before I leap. Does anyone know the difference between acrylic,lacquer, Lucite, or varnish and how to tell?

You can see the thickness in the one picture so this is not a case similar to what most of the stories online talk about.

Suggestions and comments welcome..

That is a good method for removing large amounts of surface debris but the key is to freeze the coin in water. The water infiltrates the little gaps in the surface debris and then expands during freezing which should loosen it from the surface of the coin. Repeat the process a few times as needed.

Ok I got a small chunk of it and put it in a mason jar with a small amount of acetone. Its been soaking for 10 minutes and is the same size. I will let soak longer. This stuff is actually 1/16" thick.

I also was going to buy some MEK (methyl ethyl keytone) but all they had was a MEK substitiute. They had lots of 'enes' in the paint thinner section for sure but I am no chemist.

I just wish I knew what it actually was....Looks like a freezer job is next.

I don't know if I'd risk MEK at all - it's even nastier than acetone, and doesn't act much differently at all. Look for the acetone to at least soften the surface of the stuff. If, after a couple hours in the first soak, you don't see haziness in the solution or can't poke it and get visible results with a toothpick, this may be stuff that not even acetone can solve and you're probably out of luck. I would still give it a full overnight even if that's how it works out, just to be sure. It may not help, but it can't hurt.

Oh, yeah.

You'll need to refresh the solution frequently - two hours max - but the only risk is possibly redepositing something you'll have to soak off a second time. This one needs an overnight in possibly twice the volume of liquid I see (cover it with a small panel of glass to prevent evaporation), and tomorrow you might just get a toothpick under the edge and break it loose by slabs. If not, we now know the acetone will eventually dissolve it all.

Act safely - in the bathroom with the fan left on, outdoors, or in the garage with the door cracked - to insure against the acetone's flammability, and give it a good soak. Handle it like you would gasoline.