Question About Damage To 1926 Sixpence Coins

Thanks for the tip. I was wondering about using acetone, but I didn't know whether it would help with these coins because it almost seems like the silver finish has been worn off in places.

Selective work with a cotton bud and Goddards silver dip could improve the look of the 2nd coin.

Like otto, I would definitely not touch the first one. Looks nice and toned.

If you did proceed with the acetone bath on any of them. pictures would definitely be appreciated. Also if you did, for how long did you let them soak?

I got brave (it just took a few months) and soaked these coins in pure acetone. I changed the acetone "bath" about 5 times (soaking for just a few minutes each time) and rubbed very gently with a cotton swab. Then I rinsed them in distilled water.

A lot of black gunk came off, particularly from the first coin, but they actually don't look all that different: most of the improvement is in the quality of the photography.

Here are some before and after photos.

Coin A "before"


Coin A "after" (also much better lighting)



Coin B "before"


Coin B "after"

This is quite a common problem on the British George V 50% silver coins - the copper seems to come to the surface. I've sometimes cleaned detector finds and they've stayed white for a while but the copper color has usually come back. The George VI coins from 1937-46 don't seem to be as badly affected.

It's KM #828 - the Modified Effigy variety. The designer's initials BM are further to the right on the Modified Effigy coins and don't have stops after them. On the earlier portrait, the initials are larger, have stops after them and are roughly in the centre of the truncation.