Quote:
In some posting people have recommended dipping Lincoln cents in goo be gone, but I don't want to try this on IHs.
That might work on Lincolns, but IHCs are old enough where removing a layer of crud will likely expose a discolored surface on the coin. As one who has tried to (gently) remove dirt off IHCs, I'm familiar with the risks, which include:
>Exposing discolored metal or even verdigris hidden by dirt. This is never a positive development because the coin gets a look of selective cleaning.
>When moving dirt around devices with a soft, fine object...it's very easy to push a speck of dirt or verdigris crystal into the metal. You'd be surprised how a small hard grain can dig a very bright scratch into a coin, especially on the visible areas like dates.
I'm
averse to recommending any cleaning/conservation on IHCs.
But if you like taking risks, I'd suggest starting with the common dates (1900-07) using the
most gentle methods you can devise under magnification. That way, you'll learn the threshold of damage for IHCs, and the effects of different techniques.
Since I collect die varieties, I have devised a detailed technique which allows me to loosen dirt around dates with minimal impact on the coin surface. First, I've found that denatured alcohol does a better job of loosening excess dirt than acetone. So I soak the coin overnight in a container of denatured alcohol. I remove the coin and put it on a stable, non-damaging work surface--I use a watchmaker's vise with soft jaws. Then, using a still soft rose thorn and a loupe, I'll just barely touch the area of dirt with the thorn, while flushing the area with a drop of alcohol. I do not scrub or dig at the coin. Usually, this is just enough to lift off some dirt to expose an important detail (such as for repunched dates). After the work is done, the coin is flushed again with alcohol and then dipped in distilled water and allowed to dry.
I did mention this was a detailed process, didn't I?
This method is
not for everyone--in fact you do so
at your own risk. If you want to fiddle around with 100+ year old coins (and not screw them up), conservation work becomes a time-consuming form of art. Good luck!
Posted 04/07/2009 11:22 pm
Try acetone. This would be a safe method to remove some of the grime.
Talk about the finer details! I don't have patience or the time for such an intricate operation, per side, per coin!
