Conservation Possible? (1922-D And 1931-S LWC)

I've always wondered though, how do you get the oil off the coins? It seems itd stay sticky after that, and rubbing the oil off is considered cleaning yes?

Olive oil contains impurities. Can cause damage. So depending on potential value, other ideas would be verdicare.

I think that the 22D ( due to a minimum of damage) can be improved with BadThad's Verdi-care used correctly. However the 31-S will always show damage on the reverse, as I suspect deep pitting lurks under the top problem. Verdi-care will reduce the superficial effects, maybe making it appropriate to keep, but it will be a "details" coin forever.

I agree with Jim. You definately see some improvment on the 31S with VC. I'd soak it for 24 hours and then work the verdigris with a toothpick while under fluid at the end. However, the verdigris is pretty heavy there and a stain will remain.

Just say NO to olive oil. The acids work to damage the surfaces and it's very inconsistent. People typically choose olive oil because there was no other choice....those days are long gone with VC. It's a MUCH safer and more effective alternative.

As I've warned people in the past about Olive Oils or any man made product. They are different from different manufacturers. So when someone says to use Olive Oils since it worked for them, too remember that they didn't say which one. And too you really don't know if they are just repeating what they read somewhere. Play it safe and don't use products on coins that could damage them. Olive Oils all contain acids.

I agree and forgot to mention that, the 22D look fine just how it is. I wouldn't touch that coin! Conservation should only be done on obvious problem coins. It should never be performed to "enhance" a coin.

I think I may try VC to see if I can improve the appearance on the 31S. I didn't have high hopes for it anyway, but it's my understanding (please correct me if I'm wrong) that verdi-care will at least arrest corrosion of this coin. If it's to remain an ugly coin, I don't have a big issue with that since it's the reverse, but I'd like to prevent that spot from doubling in size 20 years down the road.

As for the 22D, like a number of coins in this album, it has what appears to be a dusky, brown film on the reverse of the coin. It doesn't image well, but you can tell the reverse seems to have no luster. I wasn't sure if it was corrosion, some deposit from the album it's been in (which as far as far as I can tell was started around 1947), or some other issue. I took one of the commons out and a slight touch of my finger seems to remove it, so I thought maybe I could soak it off with distilled water or acetone. Of course, since I don't know what it is, this is just speculation. I have no intention of rubbing the stuff off the coins nor am I concerned with a difference in toning between the obverses and reverses, I just want to remove a foreign contaminant (if that's what it is) if I can do so without effecting the coin. Someone went through a lot of trouble to assemble this collection decades ago and I'd like to preserve it as much as possible.