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 Replies: 47 / Views: 5,541 |
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Valued Member
United States
132 Posts |
I just stopped in at my LCS and bought this very nice 1883 nickel. I was wondering, however, whether acetone would take off some of the dirt you can see on the coin. Sorry, I didn't take it out of the 2x2, but I'm being careful with it...as it's the most expensive coin I've gotten so far. Enough detail and dirt should be seen through the plastic. While you're thinking acetone yes/no, how might I dip it in the acetone (if I was being careful with it) rather than my usual way of taking the edges with some pliers... Any thoughts on the grade and whether it was a good buy? The coin store is a good place ( http://www.scottssportscards.com/) ...I've bought coins from there since I was 10 probably, so 8 years..so I'm not planning on the price being too outrageous. I'm happy with it, although my happiness might go down a little if I paid a bit too much for it.   |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Nice looking coin. Value is about right. Might even be worth a bit more so you did good. IF you don't know how to use Acetone, never used it, don't have any, leave the coin alone. You would be driving to a hardwware store, gas is expensive, purchasing a can of Acetone for about $4 to $5 and using it only once. They usually sell it by the quart so now you have lots of flamable, dangerous, stuff laying around and for using on one coin that may not do much anyway. I'd leave it alone.
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Valued Member
 United States
132 Posts |
Thanks for the reply and compliments...
I've used acetone, and there's acetone sitting in my garage right now...I'm the son of a mechanic, and my brother is a mechanic, so our garage could really fire up from acetone, mineral spirits, etc...
but I've only used acetone on coins worth $10 or less, and nothing worth $80. I wasn't quite sure whether my way of "acetoning" was correct, as I basically use needle-nose pliers to dip the coin. It might work if I'm gentle enough, but I'm not totally sure. I'm guessing the best way to acetone is to put the coin carefully in (I normally use a small glass container), let it rest for a time (30 min?) and then rinse with fresh acetone?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
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I basically use needle-nose pliers to dip the coin YIKES! Those pliers are infinitely more dangerous to the coin than acetone. I would bath it it ay help, itmay not but it will not hurt. |
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Valued Member
United States
132 Posts |
Right - but I had just been testing on some nasty $1-2 coins..I would jump away at touching nice coins with pliers!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1721 Posts |
Aside from changing holders, I'd leave it alone. It's too nice to accidentally harm.
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Valued Member
Canada
453 Posts |
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I'd leave it alone. It's too nice to accidentally harm.
 WJeeda, you have a nice coin there. I wouldn't put it at risk. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2448 Posts |
leave it alone. Or at least get some Mylar forceps. |
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Valued Member
United States
132 Posts |
yeah, that's probably the safest way. unless I can find some sort of soft pliers or something similar, I'll probably just leave it.
Thanks all!!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1391 Posts |
Why don't you just pick the coin up by the rim out of the acetone with your fingers. That is what I do. It might turn them white but it won't hurt you. Pure acetone isn't going to hurt a coin either. One thing to be careful from though is that the toning may be different under the gunk. (I've never had it happen but some people have said it looks bad).
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2797 Posts |
When using acetone you need to "soak" the coin. The heavier the crud the longer the soak. Dipping won't get 'er done. Make sure the gunk you're looking at is organic (dirt, oil, grease, pvc, etc.) and not oxidation (toning). Acetone won't do a thing for non-organic stuff.
I use a baby-food-sized jar with a screw-on lid. I put enough acetone to cover the coin and then a bit more. You can soak as long as you like. I give the jar a gentle swirl on occassion. Don't expect the stuff to float off the coin. You'll need to put it under a strong flow of water to flush out the contaminants. Repeat as often as needed. Finish with distilled H2O rinse.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4337 Posts |
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but I've only used acetone on coins worth $10 or less, and nothing worth $80. you paid him $80 for that which may or may not be a fair price for that coin. My suggestion on a higher value spend is to really take your time and shop around. Do lots of window shopping and wait for one that really catches your eye. Some links below to show you what I mean on this coin. Your now in a position where your $80 spent and you're contemplating an acetone soak that may not even remove what is on that coin. That very well may be environmental damage on your coin and nothing is going to remove it. It hurts the eye appeal IMO. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1883-WITH-C...em43b9813dadhttp://www.ebay.com/itm/ICG-MS61-18...em2ec6c5d91bhttp://www.ebay.com/itm/1883-WITH-C...em19d9b4f073 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1211 Posts |
Having personally conserved an 1883 "no cents" with acetone, I can tell you it will clean up very nicely.
Don't be afraid. Just wash your hands first and use your fingers. I usually fish the coin out of the glass jar using a q-tip with the jar tilted.
People are overreacting. You won't hurt your coin if you are careful.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4337 Posts |
i would suggest rubber kitchen gloves
dont go soaking your fingers in acetone
acetone will not hurt anything on a coin
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3755 Posts |
ACETONE IS SAFE. It will have no effect on the coin itself. Not sure how many times that has to be said.
Yes, you can simply pull it out with your fingers. Remember, finger nail polish remover is acetone. Your fingers are not going to melt off or the like.
As for what it will remove. I believe I see a couple carbon spots on the reverse. If that is what I am seeing, those will not be affected. The rest of the scattered crud I see likely will come off. A mason jar works great for a container. Just put the nickel in the jar and let it soak for 24 hours and see whatcha got.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1391 Posts |
The reason I don't wear rubber kitchen gloves is that acetone rots those things away in no time. I was noticing that *some* of my coins had a white residue on them and I knew it wasn't the acetone. What was happening is that I would dump a little clean acetone from the container onto the coin over the sidewalk. Some of the time I had my gloves on. When I had the gloves on some of the plastic would be eaten away and deposited on the coin around the fingers where I was holding it.
So I stopped wearing the gloves because what is the point of cleaning it just to put some nasty plastic on it?
Edited by allranger
03/14/2013 2:04 pm
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Replies: 47 / Views: 5,541 |
Posted 03/13/2013 6:15 pm
