Coin Community Family of Web Sites
Shop for APMEX Bullion on eBay!300,000 items to help build your collection! Royal Canadian Mint products, Canadian, Polish, American, and world coins and banknotes. Shop CCF Members on eBay! Vancouvers #1 Coin and Paper Money Dealer Specializing in Modern Numismatics Coin, Banknote and Medal Collectors's Online Mall








Username:
Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?


This page may contain links that result in small commissions to keep this free site up and running.

Welcome Guest! Registering and/or logging in will remove the anchor (bottom) ads. It's Free!

Cleaning Silver Maples

To participate in the forum you must log in or register.
Author Previous TopicReplies: 20 / Views: 1,946Next Topic
Page: of 2
New Member

Canada
9 Posts
 Posted 12/15/2023  4:20 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add atc250r to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
I got a few tubes of SMLs that were inadvertently handled with bare hands, then put back into the tubes and sealed. This happened about 2 or 3 months ago. I have since bought E-Z-Est Coin Cleaner, and was considering using it to prevent milk spots or tarnish in the future. What do guys think? Should I quickly dip them in EZ-Est? Or instead just soak them in acetone? Or just give them a quick light wash in warm soapy water and pat them dry? Please give me some advice
Pillar of the Community
Learn More...
Canada
9862 Posts
 Posted 12/15/2023  4:24 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add DBM to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
They are bullion not collectible coins.
Clean them as you see fit.
"Dipping" is not considered cleaning...
-from PCGS website
Pillar of the Community
Canada
1505 Posts
 Posted 12/15/2023  4:24 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add purelywasted to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I wouldn't bother with it. If you are using them as an investment, bullion buyers are not concerned with it.

If your thinking about them as a collectible piece worth a premium, they are likely already beyond hope. Unless they are rare or unique. Most SML's have large mintages and don't circulate, so lots of problem free ones are out there.
New Member
Canada
9 Posts
 Posted 12/15/2023  5:02 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add atc250r to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks for the replies, Fellas.

@DBM - Yes, they are not collectible but all I'm wanting to know is how best to clean off any oils that may be left on the coins. Right now, they still look shiny and new. I want to keep them looking that way.

@purelywasted - "likely already beyond hope". What do you mean? The damage is already done, and it's pointless to attempt to clean them now?

Also, what about a 100oz RCM bar that was touched with bare hands. How best to clean that guy?
Pillar of the Community
United States
819 Posts
 Posted 12/15/2023  5:39 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add chipjones to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I would give them a acetone soak and let them air dry.
Moderator
Learn More...
John1's Avatar
United States
56855 Posts
 Posted 12/15/2023  5:51 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add John1 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
atc250r,

If you feel the need to clean them start with 100% pure acetone. If that doesn't do it for you then zest it.You might want to water down the zest by about 20% with distilled water.
John1
New Member
Canada
9 Posts
 Posted 12/15/2023  6:02 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add atc250r to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks Guys. So a 1 minute dip in pure acetone, and then air dry? Or remove from acetone and straight to a rinse with water and pat them dry with a microfibre?

The thing is, they still look shiny like brand new. I don't visually see any fingerprints or oils on them right now. But I want to prevent any smudges/tarnishing from appearing in the future.
Pillar of the Community
United States
1484 Posts
 Posted 12/15/2023  6:03 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add halfamind to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I believe @purely is saying the finger oils have been deposited on the bullion and the chemical reaction is underway, even if it doesn't show yet.
Pillar of the Community
Learn More...
Canada
9862 Posts
 Posted 12/15/2023  6:07 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add DBM to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Dip in acetone for a minute.
Rinse in clean acetone.
Air dry.
"Dipping" is not considered cleaning...
-from PCGS website
New Member
Canada
9 Posts
 Posted 12/15/2023  6:08 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add atc250r to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
@halfamind - So would acetone not help then?

E-Z-Est is my best bet?
Bedrock of the Community
Coinfrog's Avatar
United States
94367 Posts
 Posted 12/15/2023  6:12 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Coinfrog to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Acetone is unlikely to help, but worth a try I guess.



to the CCF!
New Member
Canada
9 Posts
 Posted 12/15/2023  6:36 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add atc250r to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks for the welcomes to the forum. Been a member for over a year, just not much time to post.

I guess I'll try acetone tomorrow and then I'll know in what, a year or so, if it was successful in removing the oils which I cannot see. Like I said, they still look brilliant like brand new today.

If they begin to deteriorate, then E-Z-Est will be what I need, I guess.
Edited by atc250r
12/15/2023 6:38 pm
Pillar of the Community
datadragon's Avatar
United States
1648 Posts
 Posted 12/15/2023  8:05 pm  Show Profile   Check datadragon's eBay Listings Bookmark this reply Add datadragon to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

All 2018 Maple Leaf silver bullion coins and newer should no longer experience milk spot issues https://www.coinworld.com/news/prec...pot-fix.html

I'll play around with it more eventually, but some positive results have been shown from using EZEST, the key is diluting to 1/2 EZ Est 1/2 Distilled water or even 1/4 strength EZest. Another key is to be quick with the dipping, perhaps 2-3 seconds only then rise with pure distilled water. Anything more than that will start to ruin the surface which is where most likely gave up, so perhaps a little practice on some bullion that has no premium value would be a good start and then can move on to those pieces with value. Milk spots on the other hand apparently wont work by that method once they have settled in. It usually works more on the Haze/Cloudiness such as in silver proof quarters for example.
New Member
Canada
9 Posts
 Posted 12/15/2023  11:14 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add atc250r to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
@datadragon - So is it milk spots that fingerprints will eventually lead to? Or what is the eventual result of fingertip oil on polished coins like SMLs?

And like I said earlier, I do not see any fingerprints on the coins. But I'm worried about oils that's I can't see. Or am I being over paranoid here?
Pillar of the Community
datadragon's Avatar
United States
1648 Posts
 Posted 12/15/2023  11:52 pm  Show Profile   Check datadragon's eBay Listings Bookmark this reply Add datadragon to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:
@datadragon - So is it milk spots that fingerprints will eventually lead to? Or what is the eventual result of fingertip oil on polished coins like SMLs?

And like I said earlier, I do not see any fingerprints on the coins. But I'm worried about oils that's I can't see. Or am I being over paranoid here?


I would say you are being overly worried about it as the coins from what you say are not low mintage collectible versions where its important to keep in best condition possible and can be graded, but are the standard bullion sold for their silver value.

Milk Spots are different than oil which may differently react with the metal surface over time, leading to corrosion and discoloration. Before 2018 the canadian maple leafs did sometimes have milk spot problems but they seem to have fixed that problem.

Over time, oil can penetrate the coin's porous surface, making it increasingly difficult to remove. Oil can attract dirt and dust particles, further compromising the coin's appearance and overall value but again thats more in general for collectible coins such as when you buy a limited edition with low mintage to keep it in top condition. For those bullion coins you can just do the EZEST or acetone if you feel you really just want to try to remove the oil to keep them looking good but its probably not needed since they don't appear to be in any worse visual shape per your post.
Pillar of the Community
United States
2280 Posts
 Posted 12/16/2023  05:58 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add NumismaticsFTW to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
The neurotic rabbit hole is strong with this thread.
You realize when you know how to think, it empowers you far beyond those who know only what to think.

-Neil deGrasse Tyson
  Previous TopicReplies: 20 / Views: 1,946Next Topic
Page: of 2

To participate in the forum you must log in or register.



    




Disclaimer: While a tremendous amount of effort goes into ensuring the accuracy of the information contained in this site, Coin Community assumes no liability for errors. Copyright 2005 - 2026 Coin Community Family- all rights reserved worldwide. Use of any images or content on this website without prior written permission of Coin Community or the original lender is strictly prohibited.
Contact Us  |  Advertise Here  |  Privacy Policy / Terms of Use

Coin Community Forum © 2005 - 2026 Coin Community Forums
It took 0.34 seconds to rattle this change. Forums