| Author |
Replies: 22 / Views: 2,716 |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1582 Posts |
Got this quarter with some unwanted green stuff on it - might be pvc - don't know. Is there a safe way to remove it without damamge to the coin? Acetone? Or, some other solution I'm not aware of? It's too nice of a quarter to have this stuff on it, and I'd really like to remove it (safely). Ralph Image: 1932S.jpg26.27 KB Image: Reverse.jpg28.64 KB
|
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1267 Posts |
I've used WD-40 with some success.
Ben
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
I would try 100% acetone first to see if it helps the coin before I tried anything else
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2443 Posts |
quote:
I would try 100% acetone first to see if it helps the coin before I tried anything else
 Anything else might damage the coin. Acetone won't because it only gets rid of organic material. Do a search on it and you'll find a lot of posts with tips on using acetone and examples.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
62064 Posts |
It could be a poor mix of silver & copper. 90% Silver 10% Copper. The older Lincoln Cents had a poor mixture of copper in them. Don't know if it will come off without removing some of the surface and cleaning it. I can't imagine any other reason the green would be there.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
986 Posts |
I agree. Pick up some Acetone at your local hardware store and soak it in there. Make sure to rinse the coin thoroughly afterwards.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
I got my 100% acetone from the drug store (CVS) right up the street, it was allot closer than the hardware store (CVS and Walgreens is on every corner around here)it is near the finger nail polish. Be sure you get 100% acetone and not just finger nail polish remover
Edited by Bryan1315 09/04/2007 7:38 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Australia
1360 Posts |
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
DO NOT attempt Olive Oils, WD-40, Jewlery cleaners, Ketchup or the many other weird things people may recommend. Many say to use those things since not their coin, they don't care if you ruin it. If you ruin it trying some of those things, those people that said so will just say, Oooopps, to bad, oh well it's your's not mine. As already noted, the best is Acetone. Of course you could just try some distilled water first. Place a coin in glass container and heat very, very gently. If this dosn't work, then try the Acetone. Note this. First place the Acetone on a clean Glass dish. Allow to evaporate. If there is any residue, the Acetone is contaminated, so discard and don't use on coins. If clear, allow the coin to sit in a GLASS dish with the Acetone for a few minutes. Remove, rinse with distilled water, place on a cotton cloth and blow dry with a hair dryer on low or no heat. Only use glass containers, never a metal pan or pot. DO NOT use metal utinsils such as a spoon to add or remove the coin. Try to use glass for all. That is a nice coin so be carefull with it. If all fails, I would leave it alone after that. Old saying "let sleeping dogs lie". Just make sure you place it in a place with as little air as possible. 2x2 or something. Nice coin.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
OH! I forgot. If that green stuff bothers you another solution would be to just send that coin to me. Free of course. 
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
1582 Posts |
Carl, you have quite a sense of humor :) Doesn't bother me that much - just would like for it to go away as the coin still has some nice detail. For those who inquired - no, the mint luster doesn't show; however, who knows what might lie beneath 75 years of buildup. I'll try to get to the hardware store today, and pick up a can of pure acetone. I'll let y'all know what happens after a nice soak.
Ralph
|
|
Valued Member
United States
440 Posts |
Please be careful. That is a key date coin. Try acetone and if that doesn't work just leave it, dont rub,scrub or use anything but acetone, distilled water and a blow dryer. You have a coin worth a few hundred there. PLEASE USE CAUTION.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
1582 Posts |
Yup grovey, that's all I'm gonna do - getting some pure acetone today, got distilled water in the refrigerator, but I'll have to let it air dry - completely bald, and don't have much need for a hair dryer. :) It was a nice find, wasn't it?
Ralph
|
|
New Member
United States
21 Posts |
You can actually dry it with a thick soft towel if you gently pat it instead of rubbing it. But what works very well for me is compressed air. I used to use a hand pump like you use for camera lenses but now I buy canisters of compressed air form an office or computer supply store and use it to dry coins as well as to blow debris or dust out of capsules and from the surface of coins before encapsulating them.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1267 Posts |
Sorry, I don't agree with those who say the use of wd-40 will ruin a coin. Please see this link. Often times the perceived bad reputation a substance has is worse than the reality, but if that's what you want to believe... http://www.whitlowltd.com/updates.html "Removing residual sticker gum - Use WD40 (yes WD40!) to remove the residual gum left behind on holders when stickers are removed. We have all tried many things to remove this "goo", most do not work! WD40 works like a charm! Don't ask how we figured this one out, don't remember." It is a substance which is used commonly in cleaning ancient coins and valuable weapons and when vexed with verdigris on a coin WD-40 will do the job. "If not scrubbed after application" it won't remove the skin or tone of a coin or the bluing of a rifle. Ben
Edited by Bonedigger 09/05/2007 11:50 am
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
1582 Posts |
Maya - great idea. I have an airbrush and compressor I use in my leatherwork - I'll give that a shot and see how it does. Thanks.
Ralph
|
| |
Replies: 22 / Views: 2,716 |