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 Replies: 32 / Views: 3,997 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3479 Posts |
I've posted pics of my 1921 Morgan dollar on a past thread. It is harshly cleaned. It's another coin that I've owned since I was a kid. Tonight I slowly submerged it into the ground outside of my pad. Tuesday I will remove it and post before and after pictures. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
4911 Posts |
I'm a bit confused why you'd do such a thing to a coin you've held onto since childhood  as all you'll do is worsen it. good luck with your experiment though. if your project is aimed at getting rid of the cleaned look, just use it as a pocket piece. Feel free to call me Will.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3479 Posts |
Quote:
I'm a bit confused why you'd do such a thing to a coin you've held onto since childhood as all you'll do is worsen it. I have a lot of coins that I've owned since I was a kid. This coin wasn't a present from a family member and holds less sentimental value. I think we all can learn a lot from this experiment. It's a common date. The coin is only worth melt. I don't have anything to lose by doing this. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1655 Posts |
Speaking from metal detecting experience, silver coins usually come out of the ground shiny and cleaned looking. I don't know if this is a result of the acids in the soil or soil movement. Leaving it in the ground for only two days however, I can pretty much bet it will look just like it did when you put it in. If you want it to lose some of the cleaned look, I would suggest putting it in an environment where it will tone.
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Rest in Peace
United States
233 Posts |
Two days in the ground? Ought to do nothing, unless there is something weird in your soil. (?PCBs) Two days (or weeks) in vinegar surrounded by copper coins might give you an awful orangey result that will detract from the cleaning, but you should try it first with a melt-only Roosevelt dime. Cheers, /s/ ikeyPikey |
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
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Two days in the ground? Ought to do nothing Mike , I can't see your logic behind this hideous experiment . Take the best advice given to you by: dollarman use it as a pocket piece .  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3479 Posts |
Quote:I did this with a Two Cent Piece but for an entire year. I bought it as a cleaned coin. Buried it six inches deep. Had a heck of a time finding it... Looks like it caused verdigris. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Must agree - hardly an improvement! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3479 Posts |
Quote:Two days (or weeks) in vinegar surrounded by copper coins might give you an awful orangey result that will detract from the cleaning, but you should try it first with a melt-only Roosevelt dime. I've actually done this before. I had a bunch of change in my old truck's beverage holder. Before I sold it, I scraped it all out. It was gunky and coated with coffee crud. I boiled them in salt and vinegar for an hour. It had the desired effect. It got rid of the crud but all the coins were orange. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
Unless you have extremely acidic soil or live close to salt water burying silver in the ground will not change its appearance.
I, and anyone who done a fair amount of MD will tell you silver comes out of the ground decades after theyve been entered looking exactly the same when they are found.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7390 Posts |
Pocket piece it or bleach and a q-tip. Burying it will do nothing. Silver is Nobel metal. Not as Nobel as gold but it takes a loooong time for silver to react in soil
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3479 Posts |
OK, point understood on silver coins. Next idea, shovel it out of the ground with the soil and put in in a zip-lock bag. Next step would be to increase the acidity levels. What should I add to the porridge? It would be nice if biochemist weighed in on this thread.
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Rest in Peace
United States
233 Posts |
Why put the coin in soil at all? For the inconsistency of soil density & contact?
If you insist on doing this at all, why not just paint the coin with acid?
You are pretty much guaranteed that the chemical damage will not be uniform.
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3479 Posts |
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If you insist on doing this at all, why not just paint the coin with acid?
I'm open to all suggestions. And YES: I'm going to monkey around with this regardless of whether or not members of this forum think it's a good idea. Edited by MikeF
01/16/2017 12:34 am
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12477 Posts |
I like expirements like this but have to ask what the ultimate goal is if any? (there doesn't have to be one) I did some experiments with acetone and Verdi-Care on what are worthless coins and some thought it was a waste of time, effort and money. I do know a lot more now about trying to conserve coins of all metal types (except gold...) and what to expect. Please let us know your methods and outcomes!  In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
Edited by spru
01/16/2017 12:48 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3479 Posts |
Spruett001, here's a link to the previous thread with pictures of the coin. I think you will agree that I have nothing to lose. The only goal is to see if it's possible to make a harshly cleaned coin more presentable. http://goccf.com/t/273352 |
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Replies: 32 / Views: 3,997 |
Posted 01/15/2017 03:52 am
