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 Replies: 16 / Views: 2,048 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2443 Posts |
Has anyone ever used NCS? I'm thinking about using them on a coin that was damaged in a Whitman folder. The reverse of it is nice, but I think I spotted some hairlines on the reverse.  If there are hairlines, then I think I'll just dunk her in acetone. Will post some pictures up soon. This is what the item description said: "This is an 1869 Shield nickel that has virtually no wear but because of improper storage, we're calling it an AU. Originally part of a complete Shield nickel Set that was stored in a Whitman folder (even the Proofs!)" Edit: Photos uploaded      I hope these aren't hairlines.  Those aren't scratches by the NTS in Cents, they're raised and are maybe polish lines? Any opinions? Edited by Amazon99
10/23/2007 8:19 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
The lines appear to go under the 5 and stars, yes? If that is the case, they are die polish lines. Not sure what is going on by CENTS, perhaps a die gouge?
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Forum Mom
 United States
5877 Posts |
I agree that the apparent hairlines are acutally die-polish lines because they go under the devices. I can't tell from the pics what's going on below CENTS, but if this is raised, it could be due to a die problem.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
I was getting ready to say the exact same thing about the lines, but I have used NCS and I have to say I wasn't very pleased with the results. They have done some good work as far as I have seen them do for others but my experience was totally different with them, I sent in some coins with mine that they didn't even touch. One they didn't charge for cleaning but the other they definately did but since the coins weren't mine I wasn't 100% sure if they did or didn't until I sent them to their original owner
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2443 Posts |
Thanks for the info Bryan. I was talking with one of the NCS conservators on the NGC forums and I sent him the auction photo of the coin. He said that they would be able to clean it and help. Maybe I should send him my photos so that he could evaluate them. Do you guys think that if I dunk her in acetone it would help? The seller said that it's damage from improper storage in a whitman folder, but maybe that's just a natural reaction and nothing damaging?
Biokemist, that was the word that I couldn't remember last night, die gouge. That's what I think it possible is. Also if anyone's interested parts of the vertical lines in the shield are missing too.
About the reverse, I was also thinking die polish lines but didn't want to jinx it. Glad you guys were able to confirm it.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2600 Posts |
99, I have one coming back in a body bag for hairlines and yours has me wondering, now. As soon as I get it I will post for comparison.
Jim
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2443 Posts |
Ok, thanks Jim I'll be waiting for the pics.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
acetone definately won't hurt the coin and I would definately try acetone before I shipped it to NCS
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2443 Posts |
Not so sure if I want to try it myself. I've never done it, but I do have a few coins that would need a bath. I'll see if I could get my hands on some 100% pure acetone.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2443 Posts |
OK, picked some acetone up from Menard's last night. Going to start practicing this week to get comfortable with it before I try it on this one. How should I go about using acetone on this nickel? I was thinking about letting it soak in it for 20 minutes? Or should I just kinda "dip" it into the acetone a few times?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
it can soak in the 100% pure acetone and not do one bit of damage to the coin, it will not remove toning or anything else, it just gets the contaminants off of the coin
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Valued Member
138 Posts |
Hi, Most coin collectors of the late 19Th century and up to the mid 20th century kept their coins in wooden drawers heads up and that every time they opened this draw it would cause friction wear to the side down. Unlike the collectors of years ago we protect our coins today. Try not to clean any of your coins unless you have crud on them.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2443 Posts |
Bryan, how many times would a coin have to be cleaned in acetone in order to start losing it's luster?
Homer, in the auction description it said that the coin was improperly stored in a Whitman folder, causing the obverse how it looks. I mainly want to clean it in order to prevent any damage to it or to further stop it.
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Valued Member
138 Posts |
Hi Amazon, It would not take long to ruin your coin with acetone. If it was improperly stored in a Whitman folder what could have possibly contaminated your coin. Unless something was spilled on it. I don't know exactly when Whitman folders were introduced to the collector but could have been from an earlier damage to the coin before stored in folder. You have to think outside of the box for answers. First examine coin with a loop to see what the black crud is and work on the spot "WE" with a Q tip. It could be tar, nicotine, coffee or even impurities in the metal. I hunted for coins in the ground for years and found many coins with all sorts of crud on them and conditions. I once found 2 1/2 gold 1911 D with red in the letters which indicated that it was in a fire. Use mild solutions, try kerosene that may work because it does not evaporate as fast as fast. Let me know what you find. Homer |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
quote:
It would not take long to ruin your coin with acetone
Excuse me, would you mind telling me how an acetone dunk could possibly ruin a coin since that is chemically impossible? Perhaps you are confusing acetone with E-Z-Est or JewelLuster aka "dip". Acetone is an organic solvent and it will not affect the surface of the metal in any way, shape, or form. It will only remove organic material such as PVC residue, finger grease, dirt, some enivronmental hazes, etc but it will not harm luster or remove toning. To answer your question Amazon99, acetone will never harm the luster but some corrosion may be present under the gunk that the acetone removes. The gunk already did that damage and the acetone has nothing to do with it. You could be getting to it soon enough that no pitting has occurred yet but I just wanted to warn you in case a bit of pitting was present afterwards. The vast majority of collectors would not consider an acetone dunk to be cleaning in the traditional damaging sense of the word. More appropriate terminology would be conservation since you are protecting the coin for the long term by removing contaminants. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2443 Posts |
Thanks for the info everyone. I can't tell what the gunk on the coin is. Looks like it kinda has a moldy covering on the obverse. I bought the coin knowing that most likely it's corroded, but one can hope that after a acetone bath it will be 100% problem free.  Guess we'll find out soon. |
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Replies: 16 / Views: 2,048 |
Posted 10/23/2007 01:55 am
