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 Replies: 93 / Views: 16,088 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
717 Posts |
In another thread, the relative ease that the copper coated zinc cents corrode was discussed. It was brought up to throw a fresh cent out into the rain and see what happened after a few days or weeks. You can read that thread here: https://goccf.com/t/244840That got me thinking, so the following is my experiment. Please feel free to add your own photos and testing to the thread, but please, we aren't interested in pics of corroded Zincolns unless you can show how they got there, with before and after pics! Here are my chosen subjects for the test.   I chose two copper, pre 1982 cents, and two copper plated zinc cents. Obviously, all have had some wear, and the early cents have had a bit more patina put on them. Well, to even them out a bit, I decided to polish them all up with some toothpaste. It was a whitening toothpaste, and I took the opportunity to brush my teeth immediately after the polishing. Not sure if any of that is relevant. Here is how they appeared after the polish.   I decided to give all 4 coins a 20 minute soak in acetone before my final twist on the test. I rinsed all the coins with some fresh acetone, then proceeded to treat the 1980 and the 2014 with Verdicare. I took a cloth and wetted it with verdicare, and twisted each of those coins on the wetted area, both obverse and reverse. They were then set aside to dry. Here are the final before pictures:           When I got off work this evening, it was raining, so when I got home I took the coins and stuck them vertically, half way, into a muddy planter area I tilled for planting in the spring. I also made sure to squarely plant my thumb on the obverse of each coin, hoping for a fingerprint. So that is where my experiment stands now. I know it is not the most scientific approach, but it should be fun to see how rapidly corrosion occurs, if it differs between the two types, and if the Verdicare makes any difference in a situation it is not designed for. (Thad has never said it makes coins bulletproof!) |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4963 Posts |
I'm supposed to get a huge storm tomorrow night, so I'll have to try this as well.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3463 Posts |
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Moderator
 United States
188083 Posts |
This is going to be good.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
I wish I had noticed this earlier! It's been raining here for almost two weeks straight! Oh well, still interested in seeing how this turns out |
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Valued Member
United States
50 Posts |
- This will be interesting! |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19942 Posts |
Cool experiment. You know you'll have to run this for weeks or months, right? I doubt you'll see much change in the short-term, corrosion takes time.
Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
717 Posts |
Yes, it will be a long term thread here. I think I will get a picture of the coins tomorrow morning. They look pretty funny, like I planted them. I figure I will leave them in a particular environment for a week, then move them, or expose them to another situation. Anyone have any suggestions for torturous treatment, let me know.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4963 Posts |
For my spin on the experiment, I'm using a Cu Lincoln, a normal Zincoln and a Zincoln with part of the copper plating scraped off to see how quickly it deteriorates with a large amount of zinc exposed. Pictures will appear shortly.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4963 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
717 Posts |
I like that last one. Should show how any damage will accelerate the corrosion.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4963 Posts |
That's the idea. I also chose a nice red 1980-D so I could show how the damage started from the beginning (or close to it, grade-wise) of the coin's life.
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Rest in Peace
United States
2668 Posts |
Happy to see this followed up on.
One thing, in the ground? At least gymcoachdon will get half his zincolns back.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4963 Posts |
Just under a few centimeters of organic debris, and marked.
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Moderator
United States
188083 Posts |
That 2005-D is not long for this world.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
964 Posts |
I'm excited to see what happens next |
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Replies: 93 / Views: 16,088 |
Posted 11/12/2015 01:29 am
