| Author |
 Replies: 14 / Views: 1,400 |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
740 Posts |
Hello! Just last night I found these two V-Nickels in some CRWs. Now I know these coins are not spectacular; they are special to me though since they are my first V-Nickels. It appears someone before me had tried to clean the gunk off the coin on the left by using a sharp object and dug into the metal. What is a good way to remove the gunk without further damaging the coins? I've got some nail polish remover and cotton balls. Thank you!    Edited by BlueSolo
04/06/2015 8:46 pm
|
|
|
|
Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
You have the right idea with the nail polish remover - acetone is probably what you want - but all those extra ingredients are not recommended under normal circumstances. Some of the extra ingredients are plasticizers, and that's what you're trying to remove from the coin, not deposit it back.
These coins aren't "normal circumstances." It won't kill them to use what you have, aside the fact that it's possible that one of them will take that whole container. I've done as many as 10 or 12 consecutive rinses with really bad problems. You have the advantage, though, in that you can play with a toothpick and Q-tips without worry because of the condition of the coins.
Search the forum - especially the Main Coin Forum - for "acetone." There is a ton of advice for proper use. And if you can conceive of doing this again in the future, spring for a $5 quart of pure acetone from Home Depot (Paint Department) and use it.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
740 Posts |
Great, thanks SsuperDdave!
Nice tip about the acetone. Figured I'd post the ingredients for that exact reason : )
I suppose I get to learn a bit from cleaning coins that are worn like this without destroying value since they aren't worth much to begin with. So if the coin was in good condition you would keep giving it baths until the large clumps of gunk remove themselves?
Should the extent of my cleaning for these coins be getting rid of the stickiness on the obverse and leaving as much of the dirty bits such as on the reverse that define the extremely worn details?
Edited by BlueSolo
04/06/2015 9:04 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1566 Posts |
Don't use nail polish remover. Spend a couple of bucks and get pure acetone from a hardware store or local paint dept. Successive soaks in acetone should remove any organic material, paint, goo and just about anything else without altering the surface of the coin.
Edited by Celticsoul
04/06/2015 9:24 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
740 Posts |
Celticsoul: Yea, I guess if I'm going to probably buy pure acetone sometime I'd better just buy it already to clean these two coins. Thanks, you changed my mind on using the nail polish remover for these : )
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4692 Posts |
You do know, you will be spending more money on the acetone than the value of the coins, right?
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
740 Posts |
Yes, I do realize cash value wise it doesn't seem like a good investment. However, these coins will have sentimental value to me when I get more experienced. As I said in my first post I know they are not spectacular coins, but they are the first one's I have found so they are still pretty exciting to me. Collecting, for me, isn't necessarily what all can I profit from, rather what I think is cool.  Also I'll have more acetone for future use. (I also use it for other purposes which is why I originally bought the polish remover) edweather: That's pretty cheap, thanks for the heads-up! I think the 6 fl oz. nail polish remover I bought was like $4 or something Edited by BlueSolo
04/06/2015 10:00 pm
|
|
Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
edweather: That's pretty cheap, thanks for the heads-up! I think the 6 fl oz. nail polish remover I bought was like $4 or something
That's cheaper than Home Depot. Don't worry about the Denatonium Benzoate; that's a bitter ingredient added to make it unpalatable to animals and is in such minute quantity that there's no concern about it. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1566 Posts |
Practice on low end coins like these so you have experience when it comes to the more expensive pieces.
|
|
Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
Practice on low end coins like these so you have experience when it comes to the more expensive pieces.
Good point. Also note that acetone only removes organic contaminants; if this isn't an organic glue (probably is) it may not come off. |
|
Valued Member
United States
204 Posts |
Nice Finds! To clean them I would first rinse with soap and water then soak them in pure acetone.
|
|
Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
To clean them I would first rinse with soap and water NO!Do NOT consider this appropriate advice for any coin. |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
You do know, you will be spending more money on the acetone than the value of the coins, right? AND you would now have a dangerous solution laying around that you may never need again. It is very volatile. And too going to a store just for that would take gas in your car. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1566 Posts |
C'mon Carl it's not like it's going to explode under the sink.
|
| |
Replies: 14 / Views: 1,400 |
|
Posted 04/06/2015 9:02 pm
