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 Replies: 24 / Views: 3,402 |
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Valued Member
Canada
122 Posts |
I have come into a collection of Canadian large cents that seem to have come out of a vat of semi solid gunk (no other way to describe them). This is a sample of the coins, and I want to know the best way to get some of the gunk off of the coins to display what they actually look like. Some of them show signs of Verigation (sp) and this concerns me more. Comments, suggestions, etc, etc. Sample of the 1884H below...   |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Not to clean.
Sadly, I suspect that the verdigris, in the worst parts, when removed, will reveal unrepairable damage underneath.
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Pillar of the Community
1844 Posts |
Well even if there is some form of damage underneath, then you wont hurt it by cleaning it.... Try an over night soak in acetone , after a warm soapy boiling hot water.. Thus will or should remove any dirt... As for the verdigris, now this step is up to you .....You can use CLR it will quickly desolve the green but rinse the coin in water and corn starch..This will remove any residue.... BUT do not do this to any coin that is in good shape..Cleaning coins is a no no most of the time
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
627 Posts |
That coin in the picture looks pretty far gone. Soak it in a small container of WD40 for a few days and the give it a scrub with a soft toothbrush. (Before anybody screams at me, have another look at the coin, you cant get much worse then it is now.) I agree with the rule of DO NOT CLEAN COINS. But on a VG coin you can't do much harm. Before you clean the other coins, can we see pictures of the key dates. 1858,1859,1884,1891,1894,1900,1907H
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1984 Posts |
While cleaning is a general no-no, when you get this gunk (maybe caused by being in a PVC album?) it has to be removed or the damage only worsens. I agree with tfred on the WD40, although I would use a Q-Tip rather than a toothbrush. WD40 will take this off--in a few seconds if you are lucky. You may end up with an uncorroded coin underneath or some of the copper may be eaten away. If it is eaten away, though, it is already water under the bridge and it is too late to reverse.
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New Member
Canada
25 Posts |
Acetone and a q-tip will take off the verdigris, and won't change the tone of the copper.
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Valued Member
United States
306 Posts |
Verdicare - The stuff is awesome! It's not magical...but it does work wonders on verdigris.  I use it and love it! Read about here. https://goccf.com/t/62434 |
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Moderator
 Canada
10459 Posts |
Looks like the cheaper variety, Obv #2
Given the condition of the coin, this is a perfect 'practice' coin to teach yourself what to do, and what not to do, when it comes to your decision how to treat the other coins....
Try a soak in olive oil, then get a bamboo toothpick, cactus spine or hawthorn spine to see if the 'gunk' is soft enough to be gently removed. Avoid any temptation to rub the coin with a cloth. You want to remove the verdigris, not the patina....
"Discovery follows discovery, each both raising and answering questions, each ending a long search, and each providing the new instruments for a new search." -- J. Robert OppenheimerContent of this post is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses...0/deed.en_USMy eBay store
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3234 Posts |
I would love to see what some of these green and somewhat corroded cents look like after the soaking and gentle "cleaning". Before and after pics would be awesome here...and..
SPP seems to have concocted a brew with brushes that I've never heard of.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
972 Posts |
Cleaning coins makes them beautiful on the outside but kills there soul. No clean.  |
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Valued Member
United States
306 Posts |
Quote:
Cleaning coins makes them beautiful on the outside but kills there soul. So very true and agreed on most every account...but this coin has got to rid itself of the slimer! (Ghostbusters pun) |
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Valued Member
 Canada
122 Posts |
SSP-Ottawa - the gunk is very soft, if one presses a finger nail against it, it will come off. I'll try the cactus needle.
artdio - the boiling water? what will this do.
I do know that once I have finished the coin will rest in a dish of distilled water to get the other stuff off of it.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3234 Posts |
I would say that hot or boiling water would make the grime that much softer and therefore that much easier to remove.
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Moderator
Canada
10459 Posts |
Remember to be patient with the cactus spine, and clean it often. The spine itself will not scratch the coin, but crud stuck on the end of the spine, can...
As I said, this is a good practice coin... learn from your mistakes before attempting to remove the green slime from anything valuable...
"Discovery follows discovery, each both raising and answering questions, each ending a long search, and each providing the new instruments for a new search." -- J. Robert OppenheimerContent of this post is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses...0/deed.en_USMy eBay store
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Valued Member
Canada
122 Posts |
So took the suggestions of my esteemed fellow collectors. Invested in some Acetate, raided the mother in law's rose bush (ouch they hurt), and loads of distilled water, and here is thet result. http://imgur.com/a/NDjqSInteresting to see the detail that was not there before, like the slightly off-centre punch on the coin. Thanks to those that assisted and commented. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
695 Posts |
It doesn't even look like the same coin.
Well done.
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Replies: 24 / Views: 3,402 |
Posted 08/14/2013 07:05 am
