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 Replies: 10 / Views: 2,029 |
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New Member
United States
24 Posts |
Well, I was completely unaware of PVC residue and the damage it can cause to coins. Most of my old collection is in 35-40 year old Whitman books I filled as a kid. Those are currently MIA, but I know they're in my house somewhere along with a handful of coins in flips...ugh. I did find a 1923 Peace dollar I bought 25 years ago (was still residing in the same flip) has picked up that milky coating in spots. My wife and I also have an old (30+ years) old vinyl zipper bag that her grandfather had stored about 10 Peace and Morgan dollars (loose in the bag). Most of these are worn, and most are very discolored, ranging from black to varying shades/streaks of green. They look pretty bad. I'm going to look up acetone dipping and see if the PVC can be removed, though I'm sure the coins have little value beyond melt. Mainly, we'd like to keep them as they were her grandfather's who passed back in 1993. She was very close with him, and of course, wants to keep his coins. Until I recently started reading coin forums like CCF, I had no idea those little plastic flips could damage a coin! |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
74060 Posts |
Same here. I didn't know, until I joined this forum. If Acetone doesn't work,try Verdi-Care.
Errers and Varietys.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
I agree that the acetone and Verdi-Care track would be a good way to go.
It is the oily softener in clear PVC that causes problems, not the chloride. The softener slowly gasses out, directly onto the coin. Over a period of ten years or more, the coins can darken considerably. Complex organic / inorganic metallic compounds form a film on the coin in a sort of patina. Some of these compounds form part of that patina, and some of them can be dissolved and removed with acetone.
Verd-Care does its stuff by working on complex metallic double salts (hydroxycarbonates) in the film on the surface coin. Does not work very well on coins that have hardened vewrdigris lumps, which underneath them, have pitted the surface of the coin. Irreversible damage, it that is the case.
In future, house your coins and notes in non PVC (polypropylene or mylar) album pages.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12477 Posts |
 with the above. Remaining PVC residue can be easily removed with pure acetone. Sometimes, however, it has already affected the coin's surface detrimentally. In any case, acetone is the way to go and you get what you get in the end. Some may step up to xylene, but if the residue has done damage, that's permanent and no treatment will make it better. Aside purchasing coin-specific storage solutions, remember that any Ziploc bag or container that is "Food Safe" is also PVC-free and perfectly fine for coins.  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
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
In almost all cases a soak in acetone followed by an application of Verdi-Care will greatly improve any verdigris problem . Some might be tougher than others .  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
And  to this web site. |
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New Member
 United States
24 Posts |
Thanks for the replies. Going to try out the pure acetone this evening. I'll try to post a few before/after pics if I can manage!
Edited by Cheyenne
06/21/2018 2:32 pm
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New Member
United States
24 Posts |
Edited by Cheyenne
06/25/2018 4:20 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Quote:
In almost all cases a soak in acetone followed by an application of Verdi-Care will greatly improve any verdigris problem . Acetone will not do anything to verdigris other than dry the moisture out of it, which will help keep it from progressing as long as it is then kept dry. It will not remove it. Too many newbies hear us talking about acetone and they seem to get the idea it is some miracle chemical that will clean, remove toning, maybe even restore mint luster. Nope it is just a "degreaser" and drying agent that won't react with the metal or toning. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12477 Posts |
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
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Bedrock of the Community
Canada
24885 Posts |
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Replies: 10 / Views: 2,029 |
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Posted 06/19/2018 12:17 am
