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 Replies: 18 / Views: 3,432 |
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Valued Member
United States
143 Posts |
Is this verdigris on this 1907 British cent, upper right corner? And if so, should I dip it in acetone to prevent it from getting worse? Thanks.  Edited by jakesis
01/21/2015 3:05 pm
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Rest in Peace
United States
4078 Posts |
Soak it! No harm in trying.
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Valued Member
 United States
143 Posts |
My only concern was whether acetone might sometimes remove gunk that then shows different toning, and then the coin looks "cleaned."
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Valued Member
United States
300 Posts |
I think you will end up with different toning once it's removed. But what's worse, the verdigris that will only damage the coin more as the years go by, or a slightly cleaned coin?
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Rest in Peace
United States
4078 Posts |
That could happen. As far as a cleaned coin I'm not sure if a TPG would detail this. Interesting question. |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
It's verdigris, and all acetone will likely do is somewhat dessicate it. Progress will be slowed, some will be removed, but for this one I'm spending my cash on Verdicare instead of acetone. Use the product built for the job.
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
I'm not sure that's verdigris,looks sticky like gum or grease. John1  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
4078 Posts |
Well, why not do an acetone bath then Verdicare. More money for BadThad   |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Battery Acid will work but will also completely ruin the coin.  Just try the Acetone. Nothing to loose. Might be something else on that coin so again, just try. |
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Valued Member
United States
143 Posts |
There is something sticky there as well (or instead). Let me look at the Verdicare, since I have a few coins that have this (though nothing too expensive).
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Valued Member
United States
143 Posts |
Yep, I'll start with the acetone, and if I get really frustrated, will consider the battery acid ;-)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3755 Posts |
I have both acetone and verdis care at my desk ready to go at a moments notice. Soak it in acetone, then treat with the verdis care.
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Valued Member
United States
143 Posts |
Okay thanks everyone. One last question. The only reason I was worried about the coin looking cleaned, if the toning is different, was whether the coin isn't treated as "cleaned" if you have someone professional restore it. Again, this coin isn't worth the trouble, as it's not that expensive. But generally speaking do you avoid the 'this coin is cleaned!" problem if a professional "restores" it, or is it the same problem if the remaining toning makes clear that something was there and now it's gone?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19935 Posts |
There is definitely some verdigris on the coin but there also seems like there's some residue. It might be a mixture of verdigris covered with residue. Always follow the polarity ladder although I would probably jump right to xylene based on the gummy-looking residue: http://www.lincolncentforum.com/for...Conservation |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
A professional will refuse to conserve a coin for the same reasons we would use to argue against it - the resulting coin will look obviously cleaned. Out here in the forum, where the business isn't on the line, we can look farther out for solutions and candidates for conservation in the interest of preserving whatever the best is that's left in a coin. The arguments for/against are no different.
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Valued Member
United States
143 Posts |
That's an interesting point, Dave. And as someone else noted, if the coin is already being slowly destroyed, better to preserve it now -- it's not going to be any better in 20 years if I plan on hanging on to it.
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Replies: 18 / Views: 3,432 |
Posted 01/21/2015 3:39 pm
