Well I have a Kennedy that I know is Cameo but was wondering just how good it is but it has a minor haze to it. SO I did some research and found that a short dip in eZest, then a rinse in soapy water, and then a dip in acetone...and then a pat/air dry might do the trick. I am happy with what I did but it was not my 'best' coin but now it is close to it. Here take a look...
********************* BEFORE ***********************
So as you can see, the haze is unattractive to the coin, could this be dipped and made to look better? Well here is a rookie's result. I am pleased that a simple dip can remove this stuff. Some things of note though, it will not remove milk spots. I also need to get some better tools for working this stuff but all in all I would say it was a success.
******************** AFTER **********************
I think it did really well, I tried it on a 66 SMS Cameo quarter and the milk spot is still there but the rest of it looks much better. The best thing is it did not harm the coin in any way that I can tell. Just removed the oils, the haze, and I think made the mirror stand out.
Well, they look better to me. I have some unc silver Roosevelt dimes that look a lot like that. Didn't know that the looks could be improved. Sorry I can't be of more help.
Quote: The best thing is it did not harm the coin in any way that I can tell. Just removed the oils, the haze, and I think made the mirror stand out.
You have just stripped a layer of silver off the surface of the coin with acid, and that part of the coin is gone forever. You got away with it this time, but the next person to dip this coin will probably get an ugly surprise.
How long was it in the dip?
No need for the "soap and water" step - if you go straight from the dip to a rinse under already-running warm tap water, you're fine as long as immediate acetone rinse is the next step. With the acetone, you won't need a "pat dry" either, so you can eliminate that risk as well.
I have to say this for others reading and not posting: This was a risky step. There's an absolute limit to how long a coin can spend in dip before it's ruined forever. I have good reason for rarely discussing this kind of treatment in public - it's downright dangerous if the coin has been dipped before, and you can't tell if it was dipped before. Keep that in mind.
Yes, milk spots can not be removed. And good job but for a couple things. First, a rinse in plain water is sufficient. No need for the soap. And second and more importantly, it looks like you hairlined the coin. I would not pat it dry. Compressed air works great.
This is exactly why I love this forum so much. There is so much knowledge and experience so freely shared amongst the members. Thanks again for the lesson and making be a more knowledgeable and hopefully more successful and happy collector.
Well the dip is a couple of dunks actually. Nothing over 10-15 seconds on that batch. Same as these next ones...
Thing is I am learning and the skip the soap portion seems very doable. I also can forget the pat dry as the acetone evaporates rather quickly. You will notice that on this next set, I was not so lucky. I got some finger prints on the 68 but I am not worried as these were just test coins. I am not confident enough to do this on a money coin...I just think it makes them look better.
As a side note, I had an old Liberty Mint Madonna and Child, the thing was nasty with tarnish and such. It was gold plated but I really could tell that well and I said what the heck since I had it all set up and I dunked her. Wow, is it nice now! A looker for sure but it is just junk silver but nice looking junk Silver.
Ok here we go.....first up 1965 with a little mirror. No way a cameo coin so I can not hurt it..
And after the dip....
Not bad at all, I think I need to be more patient on the rinse etc but not bad....Next up is a 66 SMS. BEFORE....
And After.....Again not bad...
I see some black crap in the picture on the right side of the obverse. It is not there so must be the camera. I tried to match shots but I am still fighting my camera. Next up is a 68 CAM Proof...
And After......
Nothing real noticable and the scratches are still there but it was pretty clean to start with but with haze. That is gone. See the thumbprint? It was there at the start and it is still there. Maybe this one should be dipped a but longer to remove the thumbprint? I might try that the next time I get everything all set up.
Next up is a 69 CAM Proof...
And After.....
So no harm no foul here. The haze is gone and they look pretty darn good compared to my other ones without the haze. So far I am pleased with the results etc. I notice a 'stain' to the right of the obverse head. I did not notice it but it must be a lack of rinse in the acetone or water left over. I will skip the soapy water step the next time I do this..
Next up is a 70 CAM Proof..
Before .....
and After the dip...
So all in all I think this was a good exercise for me. I learned a little and will only get better as I gain knowledge in doing this.
One other side note. Months ago I had a Morgan dollar with acrylic coating on the top. I got it cheap thinking I could get that off. Well through this forum I tried the acetone and it worked. The Acrylic is gone but there was this noticeable stain on the obverse. Well since I had the dip set up I said what the heck and dipped her. I was very pleased with the results. The stain is not gone but the coin looks much better and has more natural tone to it. Most of the 'brown' from the acrylic is gone. I will post a picture later if someone wants me to. Here is the link to that thread..
I have done this with the MS 70 coin brightener to Proofs I find in circulation. The results make the coin look a lot better than it did. I figured I would experiment b/c the damaged proofs were not worth anything anyway.
I have seen it done on proof Ikes also and the results were good. I think an UNC dipped coin looks somewhat different than an actual MS coin, but I cannot tell a non-destroyed, dipped proof from one that is in great shape and not been dipped.
... like SsuperDdave said... this can be very risky.
Hey... Instead of pat dry..try this do your wash thing rinse in hottest water your hand can stand and the without administering the towel pat treatment blow dry the coin.. Let it dry and bazing!
Am I the only one who thinks this process is a mistake and we should just leave the coin in its natural state? Why are you dipping these coins anyways? just to experiment or resell them to someone else who doesn't know they were cleaned? ......sorry just lost on this.
Quote: Am I the only one who thinks this process is a mistake and we should just leave the coin in its natural state?
No.... all of us know that dipping coins destroys the value of coins, but they are his coins and if he doesn't like the look of them and wants them to look better, so be it.
Quote: or resell them to someone else who doesn't know they were cleaned?
Careful .........
I have bought gnarley coins before, if the value is gone anyway, might as well make them nice to look at. Not everyone has resale dollar signs in their eyes every time they buy a coin, some of us just collect for the fun, history and beauty.
I am one of those who collects for fun, history and beauty. I understand these are his coins and can do what he wants....but the dipping destroys all the fun, history and beauty about these coins.....kinda gives them a "new look".
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Posted 02/10/2014 8:30 pm
