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 Replies: 23 / Views: 4,899 |
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Valued Member
United States
252 Posts |
When you use acetone to clean a coin does it hurt the value because I was raised not to clean coins,that if it had a clump of dirt to use water and a tissue just enough to knock the clump off because about anything else will take the finish off the coin?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1119 Posts |
Acetone soak and/ or rinse is ok. Rubbing the surface is bad
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
You've been taught correctly as any cleaning that disturbs the coins surface is a bad idea. A soak in acetone only loosens adhesions and does not disturb the coins surface.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1314 Posts |
The tissue can cause more harm than the acetone if it is a high grade coin.
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Valued Member
Panama
137 Posts |
i once saw a video of someone rubbing a coin with a toothbrush to increase its value
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Valued Member
 United States
252 Posts |
How long has people been using this stuff,and does anyone know if 20 or 30 years from now that the coin will be the same or tone different or get spots,it is a chemical.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2775 Posts |
Kevin43, I've been a frequent user of acetone for cleaning certain types of material from non-collectable coins. With no adverse effect on circulated copper, silver, nickel and clad coinage. That said I issue a warning concerning bright red or un-toned copper. If the coin is thought to be a highly collectable or valued coin you may want to reconsider or do your homework on the proper ways of handling the process. Read the posts below and visit the links within, which can explain better than I. https://goccf.com/t/227099https://goccf.com/t/154909Red copper can and will show adverse toning if not done proper or done under the wrong conditions. Thanks, Doug. Edited by Halo1st
01/29/2016 11:42 am
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2519 Posts |
Quote:
i once saw a video of someone rubbing a coin with a toothbrush to increase its value NO. This is one of the worst things you can do to a coin, this will disturb the surfaces and kill any value. Halo1st got it. Red copper can get toned purple if exposed to light under acetone. To summarise, the fresh copper acts as a catalyst to turn acetone into acetic acid. This is what makes the copper purple. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
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How long has people been using this stuff,and does anyone know if 20 or 30 years from now that the coin will be the same or tone different or get spots,it is a chemical. I've used it for over 35 years and since it doesn't react with the metal, its oxides, sulfides etc it can't affect it 30 years later. (Of course since it removes contaminates from the surfaces it does leave them exposed so that other things can attack them.) And of course it's a chemical. Everything (except a hard vacuum) is a chemical. Distilled water is a chemical. Room air is a mixture of MANY chemicals. The contaminates that are on the surface of the coin are chemicals as well. "Chemical" does not always equal "bad". In today's society "chemical" is an undeserved bogeyman word. Edited by Conder101
01/29/2016 2:30 pm
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Valued Member
United States
252 Posts |
I want to thank everyone for there information it has been very helpful.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19948 Posts |
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Red copper can get toned purple if exposed to light under acetone. To summarise, the fresh copper acts as a catalyst to turn acetone into acetic acid. This is what makes the copper purple. Sorry, but that's a bunch of bologna. I've used acetone for decades, it will never turn copper purple under any conditions. I've also tested acetic acid on copper coins, it simply strips the surfaces like any other acid. Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19948 Posts |
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With no adverse effect on circulated copper, silver, nickel and clad coinage.
That said I issue a warning concerning bright red or un-toned copper.
Again, I've used acetone on thousands of bright red, unc copper coins with NO ill effect. Acetone is 100% safe to use on all metals/coins. |
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Moderator
 United States
188213 Posts |
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"Chemical" does not always equal "bad". In today's society "chemical" is an undeserved bogeyman word. Quoted for truth.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
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Red copper can get toned purple if exposed to light under acetone. To summarise, the fresh copper acts as a catalyst to turn acetone into acetic acid. This is what makes the copper purple. There is or was a story on the internet some time ago about this. So naturally I tried Copper and other metals in Acetone in the shade, partial Sun and full Sun. Left coins in for weeks and nothing happened. Summation: Used the wrong Sun.  |
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Moderator
United States
188213 Posts |
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Summation: Used the wrong Sun. Perhaps you need unfiltered sun. Maybe a trip to the ISS would be prudent?  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
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Replies: 23 / Views: 4,899 |
Posted 01/28/2016 10:32 pm
