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 Replies: 14 / Views: 1,752 |
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Valued Member
Taiwan
192 Posts |
 I inherited 3 albums of circulation world coins from various countries, mostly 1970+. It's very likely that the coins have been there for at least 15 years+.  Now I suspect that they are PVC albums.. The plastic is quite flexible. However I don't see any slime, and I put out some random coins and they feel just a little bit sticky. What should I do, should I just let them sit there? I doubt it's worth the effort to move them all to 2x2's.  My aunt also gave me this empty 2x2 album, I suspect it is also PVC. Is it safe to use it?  Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
Do the pages have a smell to them?
Is the material grippy and soft?
How long have the coins been in there?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
Sure looks like PVC albums, get the coins out of them now. Flexible plastic is almost always a bad sign.
"Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2¢ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
9165 Posts |
If you are going to save the coins take them out and put them into 2x2 holders.
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Valued Member
 Taiwan
192 Posts |
The page smells like... coins
No, but, indeed it smells a bit odd
It's been there for 15+ years I think
Thanks for the advice, gotta move them to 2x2s asap. I guess I'll dip all of the coins a little bit.
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
Dip in pure acetone. Wash with pure water. Air dry (hair blower works great).
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Valued Member
Belgium
186 Posts |
The album looks like PVC indeed. I'd recommend quick dipping in acetone, maybe 30-60 seconds and then leaving them to dry.
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Rest in Peace
10197 Posts |
The 50' & '60's were the real danger of PVC products. Those look to be 70's or newer which may or may not be OK. The major companies like Whitman's began changing I think @ 1980, which isn't (wasnt ) much improvement. I have some current 80 & 60 pockets that have quite flexible pages, that look similar to yours, but as stated, do not SMELL! I assume are OK but to be on safe side put coins in 2x2 or plastic flip and not directly into pages. Would suggest 2 things, 1) look for date and country of manufacture and maker, may indicate cheap stuff or not, 2) soak coins in acetone, rinse with distilled water...if nothing else won't hurt but will remove any possible organic contaminants.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1475 Posts |
Great suggestions so far.
I would change out the album so you don't have to worry about it.
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Valued Member
Taiwan
192 Posts |
Thanks for all the advice! The albums are apparently made in China with no notable brand so I'd better get the coins out asap.
This is a bit off topic, but contrary to moxking's advice, I think I've read in a thread that acetone dip dehydrates the coin surface but washing with water rehydrates it. So why would I want to wash it with water? Is it to remove any possible residue?
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
I know some guys use a distilled water rinse after their Acetone soak . I for one don't , I use pure Acetone and that's it, then let the coin dry . never had a problem . So tell me the pros of the water rinse please .  |
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Moderator
 United States
189340 Posts |
Quote:
Dip in pure acetone. Wash with pure water. Air dry (hair blower works great). Fixed.  Quote:
I know some guys use a distilled water rinse after their Acetone soak . I for one don't , I use pure Acetone and that's it, then let the coin dry . never had a problem . This.  Quote:
So tell me the pros of the water rinse please . There are none. As long as you rinse with fresh acetone, there is no reason to water rinse. The fresh acetone will evaporate on its own and leave nothing behind. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
 No need for distilled water, the Acetone will evaporate on it's own, water (distilled) or other can find it's way into crevices and create issues down the road if trapped into a new holder. I have never used a blow dryer on my coins either, I dip all coins I get in acetone (just to kill off any organic matter visible or not on the coins), Good practice and acetone is super cheap, just get a quart at the hardware store, DON"T USE NAIL POLISH REMOVER! (it has oils and perfumes in it). I also preserve my copper coins with a coating of Verdi-Care, a quick search here on CCF will bring you a lot of good info on it and threads on why. It is made by a CCF member, we used to use Blue Ribbon, but that stuff had cancer causing chemicals in it and was banned for sale in the USA. "Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2¢ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440Edited by westcoin
10/24/2017 12:42 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3327 Posts |
Regarding distilled water rinse after acetone:
Why are we dipping the coins in acetone? It is to dissolve any organic material. So just letting the acetone dry on the coin after a single dip will redeposit the impurities onto the coin's surface. If you don't want to use distilled water (I do on the rare occasion that I use acetone), then I would suggest a second dip into fresh acetone.
Everyone should do what is working for them and what they are comfortable with. And remember that acetone is a volatile material - keep away from sources of ignition.
"Nummi rari mira sunt, si sumptus ferre potes." - Christophorus filius Scotiae
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Moderator
United States
189340 Posts |
Quote:
So just letting the acetone dry on the coin after a single dip will redeposit the impurities onto the coin's surface. If you don't want to use distilled water (I do on the rare occasion that I use acetone), then I would suggest a second dip into fresh acetone. Yes, this is why we rinse with fresh acetone. |
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Replies: 14 / Views: 1,752 |
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Posted 10/22/2017 09:37 am
