Dip, Verdi-Care And Acetone

I have used Verdi-care to remove some light verdigis on coins I sent into PCGS and they came back fine, and acetone will not affect a coin coming back fine from a TPG

The three compounds are very different chemically, and have different effects on different coins.

"Dip" is a mixture of thiourea and an acid, sometimes something strong like sufuric acid, sometimes a weaker organic acid like citric acid. Dip is intended to remove tarnish, especially from silver coins. A dipped circulated coin will look cleaned and dull, and be returned from a TPG as "cleaned". A dipped uncirculated coin may or may not show evidence of dipping; unfortunately, the only way to find out is to try it and see.

"Verdi-Care" is a proprietary mixture of chemicals designed to attack and neutralise corrosion and form a thin protective plastic-like barrier around the coin, while leaving the oxide/sulfide toning alone. It is particularly intended for bronze/copper coins, on which verdigris / bronze disease is a common affliction. A coin treated in Verdi-Care may or may not be returned ungraded (depending on the nature of the original corrosion problem), but it is intended to be used on damaged coins, coins which never would have been returned without an "environmental damage" bodybag.

"Acetone" is a pure chemical, an industrial organic solvent. It removes organic residue, such as old varnish, paint, sticky-tape, some glues, and the "green goo" that forms on coins housed in nasty PVC plastic coin album pages. It does nothing whatsoever to toning or corrosion spots. Since the nature of the underlying metal is irrelevant, acetone can be used on pretty much any coin not made of plastic. It can remove some forms of artificial toning, causing some to question its safety on coins. But unless the underlying coin was itself damaged (such as is often the case with PVC goo), acetone will do no harm and an acetoned coin should not be rejected by a TPG.

Not necessarily true for uncirculated coins. There are some unknown thousands of coins that have been "properly" dipped now residing in PCGS, NGC, ANACS, ICG and other TPG holders. It is an undeniable fact.

I agree, however, that a coin that has been dipped so many times that it has developed a very "flat" dull appearance will often be returned w/o a grade, as will a coin that was dipped but was not properly/thoroughly rinsed and dried afterward (so as to have remaining dip "residue" still actively reacting with coin's surface.)

I found Sap's explanation to be very helpful.

Thanks!