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 Replies: 19 / Views: 2,523 |
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Valued Member
United States
320 Posts |
Ive been told by many dealers that they feel all shiney morgans have been dipped at one point in time. If done properly and quickly you can never tell. Is this true? The reason I ask is I have many raw morgans. Some look as if they were struck yesterday, a bunch are toned (which is cool). Others look dirty and covered with something other than toning. ( to my italian friends "lorda"). I was going to try and buy that coin dip stuff and see what happens. More of like an experiment. I know you guys always say "dont clean" but would it really matter on common morgan? Thanks for the help
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
If you are going to dip you need to practice on junk coins first.Also start with the least acidic stuff first and work your way up.Distilled water,olive oil,acetone and then e-Z-est coin dip.You can read up on most of these here on CCF before you use them.Post before and after pics if you can. John1  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2797 Posts |
As John1 cautioned "start on junk coins first" to hone your skills.
Adding to that, dip (E-Z-Est, et al) reacts with the metal on the coin, including toning. Long soaks will permanently remove any luster on the surface. A short dip and swirl and immediate rinse will minimize the luster loss.
If the surface contaminants are organic (grease, oil, dirt, etc.) the dip will not efficiently remove these. Pure acetone will work for this type of cleaning.
I have sparingly used E-Z-Est on uncirculated coins to remove unsightly toning. I immerse and swirl for about two seconds and immediately rinse with water (distilled preferred). This is only done once.
I use acetone extensively on circulated coins that have an accumulation of crud and can soak repeatedly without concern. Acetone is highly flamable and the fumes are noxious, so do this in a well-ventilated place free of ignition sources. Also use a glass container ... acetone will melt plastic and styrofoam.
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Valued Member
 United States
320 Posts |
So the acetone wont remove the luster?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2797 Posts |
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So the acetone wont remove the luster? No it won't. Acetone (pure) will not react with the metal which includes toning. It only removes organic contaminants. |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Dip is an acid, and works by literally dissolving a layer of metal from the surface of the coin. That's why you'll rarely see it discussed in favorable fashion around here. Coins which should be dipped are very few and far between.
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Valued Member
United States
320 Posts |
Oh boy this sounds like I'm going to end up with no fingers when I'm done lol. I purchased ez something and acetone. I picked out 3 about au morgans that look terrible. All from ugly toning. I have another 3 that are dirty. I'm going to try both methods. Why distilled water? I cant run it under the sink when done?
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Pillar of the Community
968 Posts |
EZ est? That stuff is strong enough to damage a coin, be careful with it. Don't mess with dips unless you know exactly what you are doing. Three coins isn't enough to learn, I ruined a couple nice Morgans when I was learning after the first batch came out fine.
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Valued Member
United States
320 Posts |
Thats why I'm going to practice. Have tons of "cull" or "junk" morgans to use. If I do a 1-2 sec dip, I cant rinse it under tap water? Why distilled? Is it because of the impurities?
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Pillar of the Community
968 Posts |
My dip process is acetone soak for 24h, then dip, then max hot tap water rinse for 5-10 seconds, then pat dry, then acetone for at least 24h more and I've never had a problem. If you feel the need to use distilled water, use it prior to the acetone step. A key part of the acetone step is to make sure it is covered and cannot evaporate, because if all the acetone evaporates, anything that came off the coin will just end up right back on it. Oh, and buy gloves. And check your email.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
I never bought EZ est, or used it, but was considering experimenting at some point. Somewhere I read the you should dilute it 2-1 or 3-1. Is this true, or is a 2 second dip in the "full strength" stuff ok?
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
There is no way you can tell what's "long enough" for a dip. Once a certain level of surface roughness is removed by the acid, the coin will no longer show luster but appear lifeless, for the rest of its' existence. Unrestorable, ruined. The total length of exposure to the acid a given coin can endure depends in part on the quality of the original dies and strike.
And there's no way you'll ever know if the coin you're holding has already been dipped, or for how long. Do the surfaces have five seconds of exposure left in them? Two seconds? No chance to get it out of the solution fast enough-time? It's Russian Roulette, except the gun's pointed at the coin. I'm really not a fan.
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Pillar of the Community
968 Posts |
A knowledgeable individual can dip a coin properly without risk of ruining it. It takes a long time to learn what is good and what isn't, and how long a dip the coin can take without losing much luster, but as a general rule of hand, I do no more than 2 seconds in a strong dip. Dips with weaker substances like ammonia or diluted dips can get 4-5-6-7 seconds, longer if they're real bad. I never drop the coin in the dip, it's always in my gloved hand and I always watch it closely. No harm in pulling it out too soon and having to drop it back in for another second or two, but if you dip it too much, it's ruined.
I wouldn't call it Russian Roulette, I'd compare it to cutting your hair. Do it yourself without lessons or any real experience, you might really screw it up. If you know what you're doing, it comes out looking better than it did before.
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
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If I do a 1-2 sec dip, I cant rinse it under tap water? Why distilled? Is it because of the impurities? Yep. I think you can get a gallon for a dollar. Try the acetone first. It might do all you need it to do. I assume that you will never want to sell these coins because I doubt that you'll be able to after a dip. |
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Pillar of the Community
968 Posts |
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I assume that you will never want to sell these coins because I doubt that you'll be able to after a dip. You'd be surprised what people will pay for a dipped AU Morgan, they go from looking like AU's to looking like low MS coins to the layman. Edited by chasingtailbar
08/13/2014 5:17 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
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The reason I ask is I have many raw morgans. Some look as if they were struck yesterday, Due to so many counterfeits around today, some or all of your so called struck yesterday may well have been struck yesterday.  |
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Replies: 19 / Views: 2,523 |
Posted 08/13/2014 10:03 am
