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 Replies: 21 / Views: 3,121 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
800 Posts |
I'm somewhat new to coin collecting. I've always been told NOT to clean coins. I have about 50 Morgan silver dollars that are from the 60s. They have not been cleaned and most are a grayish in color with few bag marks. Should I give them an acetone bath?  Edited by cashhound
04/20/2016 08:11 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4337 Posts |
you should use the search feature on the forum and you will have more reading and education on the subject than the handful of responses you're bound to get here.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1071 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5828 Posts |
Acetone is about as safe as coins as nitrogen is to humans... meaning it doesn't affect them (humans or coins).
So basically acetone gets crap off of coins without doing anything to the surface of the coin. 100% safe if you know what you are doing.
Do a search on the CCF search box (top left) for "Acetone Procedure"
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Valued Member
146 Posts |
Best not to touch them at all. Gray is good on circulated coins.
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Rest in Peace
United States
4078 Posts |
Dipper said, Quote:
Best not to touch them at all. Gray is good on circulated coins. Did you look at the information concerning acetone at Quote:
on the CCF search box (top left) for "Acetone Procedure" There is a lot of information. Hope this helps. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Agree acetone quite harmless. But don't drink it.
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Valued Member
146 Posts |
No I did not; however, I KNOW by actual experience with actual coins that IN MANY CASES acetone, heck even soapy water will remove skin from coins, lighten some coins, AND TURN some of them UGLY. Thanks for your help.
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Valued Member
146 Posts |
PS The reason I did not bother to read (until a quick look just now) is misinformation like this: Paraphrase: "Cleaning of any kind will hurt the mint luster." NUTS!...LOL
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Valued Member
United States
215 Posts |
Oh heck!,, got one in the basement right now,, been there for 3 weeks!
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Valued Member
United States
215 Posts |
1951 20 franc, jar was dry, looks no different than when I put it in
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3210 Posts |
Acetone is harmless to coins. If the coin has dirt, gunk, anything organic acetone will remove it without damaging the surfaces. I have used acetone on over 100 silver coins and it has had zero negative effect on the coins surfaces,
Edited by Imthealphaomega
04/20/2016 6:21 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
800 Posts |
Quote:
looks no different than when I put it in This was one of my concerns. If it doesn't look any different .... then why do it?  |
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Valued Member
United States
215 Posts |
n the past, if I get to it when it is still wet, some of the caked on dirt is easy to flake off. Yes, I do clean 'junk' coins sometimes.
I am not sure, someone will answer, but does it not also neutralize any fingerprint oils that may be lurking on the surface? These oils, if left untreated, may not show up as 'damage' for years?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
If not sure, best leave well enough alone.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4589 Posts |
Lot of dangerous (mis)information here for a newbie. Just Carl is right - if you aren't sure, do nothing.
Broad general rules:
/1/ DO NOT CLEAN COINS ... while there are certain specific exceptions those are only for when you learn what you are doing. At first do nothing.
/2/ That grey color is called patina, it comes from the coin being used in circulation and is highly desirable.
/3/ Acetone is MOSTLY safe, but do not rub the coin, etc. Read the instructions you were pointed to carefully and ask questions before you risk damaging a coin.
Why MOSTLY? Because while acetone will remove organic junk from the surface and not disturb the metal, that can leave the coin with a blotchy appearance where the organic junk protected the surface while the rest acquired the nice grey patina. It's like going out in the sun wearing a shirt, and when you remove the shirt, the unprotected and protected skin have different tones..
-----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
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Replies: 21 / Views: 3,121 |
Posted 04/20/2016 08:34 am
