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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,214 |
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New Member
United States
5 Posts |
Hoping for some guidance. I know the golden rule, NEVER, NEVER clean a coin, however I think I may have an exception. Below are pics of 3 Peace dollars randomly selected from a fair sized batch I bought at an estate sale. They were apparently taped to something to display them. The coins are all very dirty and tarnished except the portion that was under tape, also have tape residue. All in all very unattractive and in my opinion a proper cleaning would be beneficial. Input appreciated! Sorry for the poor quality of the pics, I only wanted to show the contrast caused by the tape. Thanks, Rich   Edited by Rich
08/04/2011 7:02 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1391 Posts |
I don't know about the cleaning. Acetone might pull the left over tape but it won't do anything for the uneven tarnish. Also, those are Peace dollars and not Morgans. I'm sure you know that but I was just telling you so you can change the title of the post. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2130 Posts |
 to all the above. |
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New Member
 United States
5 Posts |
Yup knew that my bad. Have a number of Morgans in the same condition.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5854 Posts |
I agree an acetone bath could help remove some tape residue. As for me, that would probably be all that I would do.
Edited by D0ubl3Eagle
08/04/2011 7:11 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
651 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
299 Posts |
Acetone will remove the residue of the tape and clean some of the dirt, but will probably not totally even out the looks.
To my mind, the only reason for anymore "violent" cleaning is when it is a coin worth no more than melt value to begin with and that I had no intention to ever sel, but only wanted to look at it differently or to experiment.
I do not find those especially un-appealing to my eye. They are interesting.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1080 Posts |
I suggest baths of distilled water -> xylene -> distilled water -> acetone -> distilled water. Each bath will be pretty quick (probably less than a minute)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1590 Posts |
I think we all agree that those coins will never be worth more than melt. Even the 26 (s?). Put them in acetone for a couple of days. It will take the tape residue off. Then use a commercial coin dip and DIP the coins. Don't take a q-tip or anything else to the surface. Do not leave them in more than a few seconds. Then rinse with distilled water, PAT dry, then rinse again with distilled water, place in acetone for a minute or so. Remove and pat dry with a lint free soft cloth. I know some people might take exception but these coins will never be worth more OR less than melt. Cleaning them is not going to do any harm. Just remember only do this for coins that can not be harmed by the cleaning. I had a regular seller that used to pull tons of coins out of the ground with his metal detector. Unfortunately he felt the need to take a wire brush to each one "to make it pretty". I had to stop buying from him to get him to give me the coins raw. So I spend a lot of time removing dirt and encrustations from his coins. It can take a long, long time to safely do this.
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
There are a large number of "exceptions" to the rule. Pretty much every_single_one ends up in a coin worth no more than melt value. If none of these coins have any value beyond melt, do as you wish with them. Just be sure, because that's what they're worth when you're done.
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Valued Member
United States
137 Posts |
I've always been told by coin dealers/collectors over the years that you shouldn't clean your coins. But I've wondered why do they make coin cleaners? They've made them for years, so someone's keeping them in business!
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,214 |
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Posted 08/04/2011 6:58 pm
