Wax-Like Film Cleaning ?

What it really needs is the old Blue Ribbon w/ Trichlorethane 1-1-1.
. The Trouble is the stuff is no longer available unless you want to pay 150
To 400 a bottle.
The best stuff there ever was for Copper or Bronze Coins.

Sorry, but no - 1,1,1-trichloroethane is the liquid. It's a chlorinated hydrocarbon, an industrial solvent that was most familiar in people's homes as correction fluid thinner (I think you might normally call it "wite-out" in America). The chemical has been phased out worldwide since the Montreal Protocol in 1987 because it's nearly as bad as CFCs at destroying the ozone layer.

Verdi-care should work fine, but you could try using another solvent first. If it's waxy, then acetone ought to get it off. Hexane might work just as well, but is probably less easy to obtain. They're both flammable solvents (unlike 1,1,1-trichloroethane) so you need to take the usual precautions when handling them; basically, treat them the same as you'd treat petrol/gasoline.

As for the effect on grading: organic solvents such as those mentioned in this thread don't directly attack the coin, or remove oxides and corrosion, so they do not alter the grade. However, there might be damage already on the coin which the waxy stuff is currently hiding, and which will be revealed when the solvent removes the wax. I've seen some people say "acetone ruined my coin", but those people almost always actually mean "acetone revealed that my coin was already ruined".

If you're reluctant to play around with flammable solvents yourself, and if you were planning on getting it slabbed anyway, why not send it in to NGC Conservation Service? They'll use whatever grading-acceptable solvents they think might work.

@Sap - Didn`t think of the NGC service, thanks. I`ll try to get a good look at the coin to see if there`s any underlying damage first. Thanks

TerryT - I think you`re right about Bronze being harder than silver and more resistent to scratches. I rubbed another one with a much lower grade that had similar dirt just with my thrumb and where I touched it, it got rid of the grease and didn`t seem to do anything. So hopefully just a degreaser and then maybe acetone is worth trying. Thanks.

@mcshilling - Thanks but he doesn`t ship outside the US, I`m in Canada.

wizard coin supply will ship it Canada, expensive shipping but worth it. a bottle or 2 will last a looooong time.




the toothbrush might not scratch, but the dirt it picks up can, and often does. same for a t-shirt. you might not see it with the naked eye, but under a loupe, or if sent for grading, there is a good chance of hairlines being noticed - and noted.

I wouldn't take the chance, especially if this slayer is 1850, 52, or 54 (57's in this grade aren't hard to find)

A very nice, very well struck example.

52s in this grade are not easy to find, and as such you are fortunate to have this in your collection.

I don't see the "substance" causing any damage, and removing it (regardless of method) may unearth unsightly toning that has worse eye appeal than in it's current state.

It's survived in remarkable condition for 167 years, personally I would leave it just as it is.

Very nice coin

edit/add; very nice photography as well!

With all due respect that stuff is not even close! Just awful results!