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 Replies: 38 / Views: 3,557 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3098 Posts |
I received this lovely 1838 Seated Liberty half dime. It looks original with great luster and sharp details. It has light black spots on it. I just received it today and have been giving it an acetone soak. I've dabbed it carefully with Q-Tips and have had a good amount of black coming off. My question is - Do folks think that continued soaking in acetone will further remove the black spots? I'm not sure if they are toning spots or dirt. I want to proceed carefully with it since it's such a nice coin. It's definitely improved with acetone, but I don't want to take any chance of damaging it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on how to handle it.   Paul Bulgerin
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3098 Posts |
I noticed I listed this under Classic Coin Grading. I meant for it to go under Classic Coins. If a moderator wants to move it that's fine with me. Here's the seller's photo so you can see what it looked like when I got it. Sorry, but I didn't think to take a photo of it before I put it in the acetone.  Paul Bulgerin
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
The coin looks significantly better than the original pictues. I can't really help with cleaning as that would be outside my realm of comfort. I think you stole it for what you paid for it.  Nice gamble! Easily AU-55 problem-free, and probably worth many multiples of what you paid for it. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4337 Posts |
That might just be some deep carbon spotting that has no chance at coming off regardless of how many baths you give it.
I'd go AU details environmental damage on the grade.
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
 with DSFreeWorld. Those appear to be carbon spotting, what I call the measles. The more attempts you make to reduce their influence, the more likely it becomes that you begin to lose what natural luster remains. If you were to take the 'cleaning' of this coin to the extreme to remove these spots, it is likely you would have mild depressions under those spots from the environmental damage. I wouldn't take the cleaning effort that you've accomplished any further. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36800 Posts |
Acetone won't take the spots off unless they are glue, some other adhesive or paint/lacquer. I think only a dip like E-Z-est might take these off or lessen them.
The coin looks MS.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8137 Posts |
I think that this could be an MS coin, if you can get all the spots off. It looks like you are doing a good job so far, and I'm looking forward to any further updates!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
That's a good suggestion.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
Here's the coin after a further acetone bath. Not a whole lot of change. It does look like it's close to MS and has great luster. There are a couple of marks on the reverse, but the obverse is pretty clean. I've never sent a coin to NCS, but I am a member of NGC. Is the cost to have a coin conserved a lot? I got the coin for a very low price, but would need to figure in the cost of NCS services and grading to see if it's worth my while to send it in. What do people think? Thanks again.  Paul Bulgerin
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
Thanks for the information about NCS. I will seriously consider sending the coin to them.
Paul Bulgerin
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
One more question: If NCS successfully conserves a coin, does it go in a regular slab or is it graded as a "details" coin?
Thanks.
Paul Bulgerin
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
It really depends on the surface after the conservation. If there is pitting like moxking suggests, then it'll get a details grade. If there are no discernable signs of damage (as I think will happen), then it'll grade problem-free. It would grade problem-free as it is, so I doubt there will be much difference.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
It's good to hear this coin might well end up in a regular slab even without conservation.
Paul Bulgerin
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4932 Posts |
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Replies: 38 / Views: 3,557 |
Posted 01/06/2016 11:25 pm
