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 Replies: 16 / Views: 4,342 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3098 Posts |
Today I received this 1881 Indian Head cent for which I paid $6.00 (shipping included) on ebay. You can see from the auction photos all the green on it, but it looked to be a better grade coin. When I got it I let it soak for a bit in hydrogen peroxide and the green all came off in just a short while leaving a nice coin. Lest I hear choruses of "Don't clean!" I want it to be known that I hardly ever do anything to a U.S. coin by way of soaking or removing dirt, although I do clean ancient coins. For the price I thought it was worthwhile to see if the green would come off with a simple soaking.     Paul Bulgerin
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Pillar of the Community
United States
567 Posts |
I'm confused as to why you did not use acetone to clean it? Acetone is not considered cleaning and is good for things like this.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3098 Posts |
When I clean ancient coins I normally soak them in distilled water or hydrogen peroxide.
I've never tried acetone. I'll have to read up on it.
Paul Bulgerin
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Wow--that's an amazing transformation! Looks like the green was just a surface film which didn't eat into the coin. Otherwise, you would see pitting all over the coin--not that nice patina!  What would you grade it? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
567 Posts |
I'm not the most knowledgable about cleaning coins, but from what I understand acetone is considered the safest method to clean coins, and the only method that is not considered "cleaning" in the negative sense.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
It has 3+ diamonds and good detail on the feathers. I think it's an AU coin.
Paul Bulgerin
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8516 Posts |
Incredible transformation ! I have a few greenies that I might have to try this out on. How long did you let it soak or were you able to see it turn ?
Oregon coin geek.....*** GO BEAVS ! ! ! ***
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
I let it soak for about two hours and most of it came off in the soak. I then used a Q-Tip to gently rub it and that removed the rest of the green and some dirt on the reverse. I was very pleased with how well it worked. I didn't know if the green would come off or not.
Paul Bulgerin
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Valued Member
United States
89 Posts |
do you guys know if I can use acetone on silver coins?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
604 Posts |
Looks like you had a real gem hiding under all that green stuff.
I had read an article recently that using hydrogen peroxide is one of the safest ways to clean coins. Thanks for the pictures to see how nice it works on coppers.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5825 Posts |
GOOBOT, yep, acetone is safe for silver coins. I'd really be interested to see if the IHC could be slabbed as original. The green color is some sort of oxidation and to the best of my knowledge can't be removed without affecting a coin's surfaces. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8516 Posts |
I would imagine it's been in the ground since shortly after its minting.
Oregon coin geek.....*** GO BEAVS ! ! ! ***
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
I'd rather treat copper with acetone than peroxide, an oxidant strong enough for use in rocket engines. Not enough of a chemist to understand exactly how the green stuff got oxidized but I'm relatively sure something violent just happened to that IHC. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
937 Posts |
I would bet it would go 'details' by a TPG. I have looked at several large cents and Half Cents recently that were graded 'details cleaned' with a very similar look, which I do not find unpleasing. |
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Valued Member
United States
89 Posts |
Quote:
GOOBOT, yep, acetone is safe for silver coins. How long would you say I should leave a coin submerged in it? Also my mom claims that is nail polish remover tho I'm pretty sure you can't use that. Right? Where could I just get acetone from? Edited by goobot
11/22/2014 3:44 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
Please understand that this is diluted hydrogen peroxide, the kind you buy at the pharmacy, not fuel-grade stuff.
I've used it for years on ancient coins and on copper coins I've dug up metal detecting and have never noticed any ill-effects using it.
Paul Bulgerin
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Replies: 16 / Views: 4,342 |
Posted 11/21/2014 9:54 pm
