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 Replies: 25 / Views: 7,672 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
589 Posts |
Hi All,
Does giving a coin an acetone bath lower its grade and value? Is it the same as cleaning it?
ST
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Moderator
 United States
188204 Posts |
Quote:
Does giving a coin an acetone bath lower its grade and value? Not typically. However, it could if the acetone removed something that was protecting that part of the coin from toning at the same rate as the rest of the coin and that contrast looks worse than whatever the acetone removed. Quote:
Is it the same as cleaning it? No. It only affects organic material, not the metal. (Unless you are using acetone on red copper in bright sunlight. Do not do that.)  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
And some forms of artificial toning can be removed by acetone if the "toning" is just the result of a substance on the surface of the coin and not an actual toning reaction with the metal. For example a copper coin with dell's Darkener on it. Much of the deeper brown color is actually in the film on the surface and acetone removes that film.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
IMO:
Original surfaces > Acetone dipped > coins with crud and gunk on them.
I would not use acetone to try to remove natural toning, but if there is gunk on the coin, the value can't really go down too much.
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
It's not cleaning in the sense that I believe you are using the word. Acetone itself will rarely lower the grade or cause a details grade, it can happen with red copper on occasion. That said if the surfaces look weird or significantly different under what it removed it can be a negative but generally speaking it's perfectly fine and will be a positive or no change on the grade. I wouldn't be worried about using it on the majority of coins
Edited by basebal21
07/10/2018 4:23 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
 Well said. |
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Moderator
United States
188204 Posts |
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I wouldn't be worried about using it on the majority of coins Agreed. |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
There are rare instances of plastic coins and tokens being issued.
I suppose that acetone would severely affect them.
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Valued Member
United States
318 Posts |
I've had great luck with my 1950s and 60s nickels after acetone dip. The most recent batch I sent to PCGS came in last week with several at MS64, MS65 and MS66 grades. Prior to the dip, the ones at MS64 would never have had a fair chance due to black grease like stuff over them. Dipped for about 15 minutes each. I broke several rules by brushing a few but that was the only way to fully get the grease off. I've been using these little mini mason jars that work very nicely for keeping the acetone from evaporating away, stinking up the whole house. https://www.webstaurantstore.com/an...5098908.html |
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Valued Member
United States
318 Posts |
A little warning about my reference to brushing... no aggressive brushing as under magnification you will see it. I've been using little mini artists paint brushes which is hard to get aggressive with. They are enough to help move some surface stuff that just doesn't seem to want to come off, such as with grease. I spent the money for higher priced brushes with wood handles and real hair as that holds up well with acetone use.
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Valued Member
United States
227 Posts |
What do you use for acetone—nail polish remover or paint thinner or something else—are both these acetone?
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
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What do you use for acetone—nail polish remover or paint thinner or something else—are both these acetone? The pure commercial kind. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8715 Posts |
Quote:Quote:
What do you use for acetone—nail polish remover or paint thinner or something else—are both these acetone? The pure commercial kind. Yes. You can find 100% acetone at hardware stores, such as Lowe's, Ace, or True Value. Avoid products that are labeled as nail polish removers as they can contain other chemicals that can damage coins. Edited by SilverDollar2017
07/10/2018 10:55 pm
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Valued Member
United States
318 Posts |
Go to your local home center, in the paint section usually. Where they have all the paint thinners and stuff. You can purchase 1 quart and it is clearly marked Acetone. I have gotten sick from sniffing too much so consider a well vented area. And don't smoke near this stuff as it flames up worse than gasoline. It burns clear which means you don't see it but you certainly will feel it as it burns your room up.
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Moderator
United States
188204 Posts |
Quote:
There are rare instances of plastic coins and tokens being issued. I suppose that acetone would severely affect them. Of course, which is why I was careful to say "It only affects organic material, not the metal." If you have a non-metal coin, this does not apply to you.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
If you read the label on a can, jar or whatever the Acetone is in, it should say just Acetone. Not list any other additives.
And as a rule, test it for purity. By that I mean place a small amount on a clean, clear glass plate and allow to evaporate. If no residue, it is OK.
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Replies: 25 / Views: 7,672 |
Posted 07/10/2018 3:17 pm
