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 Replies: 11 / Views: 17,239 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1083 Posts |
I have a ten dollar 1909 gold Indian. It is graded at a 61 by NGC. After I crack it out for my 7070 I was thinking about an acetone bath. The coin has some discoloration and an overall dull appearance. I was thinking it might be organics and a dip might help. Has anyone ever used acetone on a gold coin?  |
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Pillar of the Community
Spain
1361 Posts |
I never tried it but you can always try it first with a gold ring if you want to see if there is a reaction to gold.
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Valued Member
United States
499 Posts |
Trying it on a ring could give a totally different reaction than you will get with the coin. A ring will only be 10-18 karat and the other metals in the alloy could give you a reaction that would not relate to your coin. I have never tried it but would recommend that you wait for someone that has to post before doing so.
Richard
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Acetone won't affect gold. Indeed, almost nothing will actually attack gold - aqua regia (one part nitric and three parts hydrochloric acid) will dissolve gold when neither ingredient will do it alone. Sodium- and potassium-cyanide will do the trick. Part of the reason why gold has been so popular for coinage through the ages is its' resistance to normal oxidizing agents. You can eat gold with no ill effects.
Pure acetone is an organic solvent. Gold isn't organic. By all means, do due diligence, but you should conclude that you can dip gold in acetone without fear.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
Before, my half sovereign was caked in this green rock-candy like substance. I soaked it in acetone for a good 10 minutes until the acetone evaporated, and the green stuff was gone. The coin looks just fine, no detail lost and it's actually shinier!
.925 and .900 isn't that far off, is it?
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
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.925 and .900 isn't that far off, is it? Not at all, with regard to acetone, because the metals used in the alloy don't care about acetone either. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
860 Posts |
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I soaked it in acetone for a good 10 minutes until the acetone evaporated, and the green stuff was gone. Please rinse that coin with pure acetone. If the acetone evaporated, the green stuff can't evaporate and was probably in a thin layer on the walls of the container and probably both sides of the coin, ( too thin to see as a colored layer). Maybe not, but I wouldn't take the chance it might initialize another bad reaction. Jim |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1083 Posts |
Thanks everyone. I appreciate all the advice.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1083 Posts |
Freed the MS-61 1909 Gold Eagle from the NGC plastic today. I gave it a short soak in pure acetone and rinsed with distilled water. No change in the gold tone, but it has an overall brighter and more attractive appearance. Some of the smudges in the feathers and in the field of the obverse are gone. Now I can add it to the 7070. Thanks all and especially SuperDave!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Sorry SuperDave but Gold does react and combines with Chlorine to form AuCl3, also HAuCl4 and with Sulfur to form Au2S
Also, gold will react with Fluorine and Cyanide and dissolves in Mercury. True, Gold does not easily react with Oxygen and that is why people assume Gold is inert.
And true, Gold has no effect on Acetone. Or is it Acetone has no effect on Gold.
There have been debates on that also. There are some that claim that almost any metal left in Acetone and placed in direct sunlight for extended periods of time will greatly effect that metal. It has never done anything for me though.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1083 Posts |
Hmmmm? AS I always do, I left the acetone that I soaked the gold coin in, to evaporate in the dish. There was a greasy film left in the bottom of the bowl. I asume that came off the coin, which was much brighter after the soak. The gold didn't react, but the organics on the coin certainly did.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
Hmmmm? AS I always do, I left the acetone that I soaked the gold coin in, to evaporate in the dish. There was a greasy film left in the bottom of the bowl. I asume that came off the coin, which was much brighter after the soak. The gold didn't react, but the organics on the coin certainly did.
Smart move. Now you know there was something on that coin that is no longer there. When you think about how many people could have handled any coins, what their hands looked like, where they were lately, it sort of makes me always want to dip in Acetone by the gallon. I always hate this story. At a flea market there is this guy that sells coins. He sleeps in his truck so he can save money and be there first in line to get in to sell the next day. He eats in there and uses any place at all for a washroom at night. Once the flea market opens he runs to the washroom. I've seen him in there and he never washes his hands. I've seen him at his table picking his nose. I always wondered about the people that buy coins from him. ACETONE, I love you. |
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Replies: 11 / Views: 17,239 |
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Posted 03/14/2009 4:41 pm
