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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,147 |
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New Member
Australia
49 Posts |
Hi All,
From some of the information I have found this is a subject with many different views, but would like to hear some of your views. Do you do anything to clean coins found in circulation or to maintain the condition of the coin, if so what?
I do understand that many coins cleaning can actually cause more damage then it solves, and would expect that anything that is proof or similar high quality could actually be damaged through cleaning. However what about circulation coins that maybe only had been handled once or twice, would you do anything to try and remove the finger prints or marks / oils from your skin, or is it better to just leave these markings.
*** Moved to Main Coin Forum by Forum Dad ***
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1040 Posts |
Cleaning coins is such a difficult topic. So many different opinions on what cleaning is and what it isn't.
Mint issue coins I never touch with bare hands. Ever. I can't think of any reason they should be cleaned. If they tarnish, that is part of the ageing process. Or bad packaging, but I think the mint has this pretty much under control now.
Same with pre-decs. I buy what I like and look after them so no dirty fingerprints get on them or breath or any contaminants. Hence, no cleaning.
Coins taken from circulation are a completely different ball game. If I get a nice coin that has a fingerprint on it, I will wipe it with a soft cloth to see if I can remove it. Many people will disagree with that, but I hate fingerprints on my coins and will return it to circulation if it wont come off. By wipe, I mean wipe, not a hard scrub. My reasoning? Coins from circulation are already well handled and will have received about all the damage they are going to receive before they get to me. If I can't get the fingerprint off, as far as I am concerned, it is too damaged for my collection. And as decimal coins are MY collection, and not for resale or investment, I will try to improve them if I can. But as I say, only a light wipe, no scrubbing, chemicals or other methods.
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Moderator
 Australia
16806 Posts |
If you've got a proof or unc coin that you can see a fingerprint on, and it's changed the colour of the metal and/or oxidized the surface, it's probably already too late - anything you do to "clean" it will probably make it worse. An old fingerprint on a coin (especially a bronze/copper one) won't come off without acid.
A fresh print is different. If you've got a proof or unc coin that has just been pulled from circulation or accidentally mishandled, in such a way that you are fairly certain that a fingerprint stain will develop on it in time even though you can't really see anything there now, a quick swish in acetone will remove the fingerprint oil before it can do damage.
If a fingerprint is fresh, trying to wipe it away might even make the problem greater, by smearing the oil over a wider surface.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
2830 Posts |
Where do you buy acetone in Oz ?
Peter
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New Member
Australia
42 Posts |
repco,brand k&h,part no A500, 500ml
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
877 Posts |
In the paint section of Big W. 750 ml for less than $10.00.
Or nail polish remover is just acetone -but much more expensive.
Jeff
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Moderator
Australia
16806 Posts |
Some "nail polish removers" aren't pure acetone; they either contain other ingredients or are diluted with water.
When you get some acetone, do a quick purity check: rinse a clean glass or ceramic cup (not plastic) with some of the acetone, then pour some more into it and let it evaporate. If it leaves a residue behind, don't use it on coins. I use laboratory grade acetone and haven't noticed any contamination issues.
Safety note: acetone vapour isn't entirely pleasant, and both acetone and acetone vapour are flammable. Treat it like petrol: no smoking, no fires or other heat sources nearby, use outside or in well ventilated areas. Don't use it with plastic containers as some plastics are depolymerised by acetone.
Do a forum search on "acetone" for more tips on using it with coins.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
2830 Posts |
G'day & thankyou.
I knew that acetone was the principal ingredient of Nail Polish Remover, but that there were usually additives. Sometimes it was labelled "oily acetone".
However, when I checked both Coles & Woolies last year, there were half a dozen varieties of NPR, but every one of them was labelled "ACETONE-FREE".
I'll look in those other places.
The Seppos swear by acetone.
I want to see what it does to some grubby CuNi coins.
I'll post something when I've conducted some experiments.
Peter
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Formerly nancyc
Australia
5385 Posts |
Also available at Bunnings - 1 Litre - $12 - about 2 yrs ago, probably dearer now. Any type of Nail Polish Remover would be a bad idea. Look at the list of ingredients on the bottle. Don't even contemplate it, you'll ruin your coins.   life is a mystery to be lived not a problem to be solved
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1040 Posts |
Well I guess you never stop learning. I had never heard of using acetone before this forum, will have to try it next time I get a nasty fingerprint. Thanks Sap.
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New Member
 Australia
49 Posts |
Acetone still is available at Bunnings, and was actually cheaper then Nancy mentioned at something like $10.50 for 1L bottle, and $30 something for a 4L Tin.
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,147 |
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Posted 04/19/2008 03:35 am
