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 Replies: 20 / Views: 4,220 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
669 Posts |
This quarantine has given me some extra time on my hands. A couple months ago I found a 2019-W American Memorial quarter in my change while shopping in good shape. I'm assuming it's been touched by at least a couple of people (i.e. the cashier) that would have likely left their fingerprints on it from normal handling of a coin. Is there a way to "clean" it just to try and remove the fingerprint oils off of the coin without damaging it where a TPG would reject it as a details grade? Nothing is wrong with it visibly (aside from a few scratches from circulation), but want to prevent any potential problems in the future from it being touched. Edited by mrpapageorgio
04/28/2020 04:18 am
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
100% pure acetone. Not standard nail polish remover. John1  |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
You will never get fingerprints on a coin that has washed with soap and water, provided that
all of the skin oils are dissolved by the soap, THEN the coin is rinsed immediately and completely after that. Finish rinsing with distilled water if you must.
Soap consists of sodium palmate, which is made by reacting palm oil in caustic soda. It is PH balanced and buffered after that. The result is soap, which has molecules, which at one end, dissolve in oils (fatty acids, to be precise - skin oils are an example), and water at the other end of the molecule. That is WHY we wash our hands on good old soap 'n water.
Just make sure that the coin is immediately and completely rinsed with clean water, to remove any residual soap.
If you DO NOT remove those fatty acid skin oils off a coin, fingerprint staining on the coin will be the result on a bronze coin that has luster.
It is possible to handle ancient bronze coins, because the thick patina will protect the metal underneath.
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As an aside, soap is much better for killing all viruses** than antiseptic can,
and
antiseptic is much better at killing bacteria than soap can.
** The water soluble lipid fats or oils found in soap almost instantly break down the casing of viruses, CV-19 included.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Please note that almost any soap you buy is different in chemical properties. This means that the previous reply is very risky. By that I mean there are soaps on the market that are very abrasive while some soaps are full of almost anything for beauty purposes. Some of these soaps could actually damage a coin by being to abrasive. Also, to utilize just water you should also note that water in some areas contain Fluorine or Chlorine or due to water softeners, Sodium salts. In other words just saying soap and water could actually damage a coin.
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
Agreed,that's why I recommended pure acetone. Even acetone only removes fingerprints if you use it asap,and not always works. John1 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
669 Posts |
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Rest in Peace
United States
2668 Posts |
Meh. Put subject coin in a sock. Tie a knot in the end of the sock. Run through laundry. Needless to say this is not for your prized coin. |
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Valued Member
United States
97 Posts |
If you cannot see any fingerprints on the coin almost anything will restore its surface. Acetone, MS-70, soap and water, coin dip, goo Gone, orange oil, and... You get the idea. If you can see the print, much of the time you are out of luck.
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
Be very cautious using anything other than 100% pure acetone.
John1
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
If your worried about Covid-19 being on a coin I would try an Alcohol wash then rinse in distilled water then a few dips in Acetone . I never used Alcohol on a coin but should kill any germs on the coin .  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
669 Posts |
Quote:
If your worried about Covid-19 being on a coin I would try an Alcohol wash then rinse in distilled water then a few dips in Acetone . I never used Alcohol on a coin but should kill any germs on the coin . Not worried about Covid-19, more worried about fingerprint oils causing damage down the line from being handled as change. |
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Moderator
United States
188052 Posts |
To be clear, you cannot have COVID-19 on a coin, as that is the disease caused by the SARS-CoV2 virus, which can be on a coin and other places.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
Acetone is a waste, and next to useless for the metal detectorist.
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Valued Member
United States
97 Posts |
LOL. Acetone is NOT a waste. I took a conservation seminar taught by a former employee of NCS. Conservation works like this: Start with the least and go up as needed. Acetone is one of the first steps for some coins depending on the initial exam and desired outcome.
Guys who dig coins out of the ground should not start with acetone. Therefore, the other member is 100% correct. Acetone is a waste for the first step used to clean a dug coin.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4989 Posts |
Just a note to never dip a circulated coin in MS-70 or any other acid dip. That will destroy its value for at least the next 5 years for it to retone to get any kind of natural toning. Even then, it often tones in unusual ways and will be immediately recognized as a cleaned coin. And, obviously, no bronze or copper coin should ever be dipped because that will destroy the color forever, and it will be a details coin from there on out. As a general rule, never dip a coin.
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Valued Member
United States
97 Posts |
"A member posted: "Just a note to never dip a circulated coin in MS-70 or any other acid dip."
Out of curiosity, where did you read this? I guess whomever believed this thinks the conservation services don't conserve AU and lower (circulated) coins using an acid dip or even MS-70.
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Replies: 20 / Views: 4,220 |
Posted 04/28/2020 07:25 am
