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Replies: 23 / Views: 7,805 |
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Valued Member
United States
214 Posts |
Is there an acceptable method for preserving the steel wartime coins (I.e. the U.S. 1943 zinc coated steel penny and Canadian crome plated nickle)? I am begining to see rust bubles forming under the coating, and based on my experience with cars rusting out, I suspect that it will only be a matter on time before the coating flakes off and the rust holes spread. There are waxes and rust inhibitors for cars, but I am not sure whether these are acceptable in the coin industry, and I suspect using Bondo and recoating will be frowned upon by any grading service.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
562 Posts |
I believe the only way to preserve steel coinage like 1943 steel cents is to store them properly, meaning keeping them in an airtight capsule in a dry environment. Once rust appears on a coin, there's really nothing that can be done.
In the past, I've kept rusty steel cents in a lemon juice / salt concoction for a day to remove rust, but the coin will still exhibit damage and is not a permanent way to ward off rust growth.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19930 Posts |
Atlas is dead right!
Also consider that MS examples of the 43's are very inexpensive and plentiful in the marketplace, it's not even worth the effort to conserve/save them from corrosion.
Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12804 Posts |
@BadThad - would Verdicare not prevent corrosion? I'm guessing not if you didn't suggest it. 
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5828 Posts |
I dont THINK VerdiCare would help with corosion... Hrm, I may need to do another 1943 Cent Experiment!
I suggest using air tight capsule, in a dry area.
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Valued Member
 United States
214 Posts |
Thanks for the advice. The three in the Whitman folder are probably to late to safe but the I have put the remaining good ones in plastic 2x2s and in a box with silca packs.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19930 Posts |
Quote: not prevent corrosion? It should, I've never tested it. It will definitely NOT remove rust from 1943's though. I just don't see the point to doing anything to a 1943PDS if it has a problem. It's more effort than it's worth when you can just buy a new, pristine example for next to nothing.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12804 Posts |
Quote: I just don't see the point to doing anything to a 1943PDS if it has a problem. It's more effort than it's worth when you can just buy a new, pristine example for next to nothing. Agreed. Just thinking preventative here.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
The same methods for successfully preserving the condition of red uncirculated bronze coins over decades, can be used for high grade zinc coated steel cents.
I use cardboard / Mylar 2x2's in non PVC album pages.
Slabs and capsules are obviously OK.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1132 Posts |
One of the dealers @ the LCS was looking through my 7100 & saw a pristine D&S next to a shabble of a "P". He (I kid you not) 1) Grimaced 2) opened a desk drawer 3) pulled out a tube of 1943 UNC P's 4) swapped them 5)Gave me the album back. I asked him the charge & he said he was doing society a service by ridding my album of that ugly coin.  Fact is often stranger than fiction. I couldn't make this stuff up of I tried.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
932 Posts |
I just leave mine be... Is that bad?
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12804 Posts |
Quote: I asked him the charge & he said he was doing society a service by ridding my album of that ugly coin. hahaha! Quote: I just leave mine be... Is that bad? Not even remotely bad. Collect how you like. 
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New Member
United States
1 Posts |
From a retired Mechanic........They are "Steel" - put some lite weight oil on them, 3 in 1 oil, Gun lube oil, even penetrating oil would help. Just a lite coat. Dab them with a paper towel if you get too much on them.
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Moderator
 United States
187446 Posts |
 to the Community, libcap!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1791 Posts |
There are waxes for coins but as many have said they aren't needed. For fun I put Renaissance Wax I got many years ago on one side of a dateless Buffalo nickel yesterday. It does enhance the sheen a little bit but the side with the wax has a plastic-like feel to it when compared to the other side.
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Replies: 23 / Views: 7,805 |