Using Acetone

Please, search the forum for our previous discussions of acetone - it can be used safely, but not for removing toning. It will_not remove toning.

And, with all due respect to the previous poster, never touch a coin with a q-tip. If it works, that q-tip will pick up the dirt and scrub your coin with it. Might as well use sandpaper.

I was going to say that only a little more strongly.


And again words from someone that is not a coin collector I would presume.
No one that cares for their coins dips them in things like Jewlery Cleaners from Walmart. Might as well advise using battery Acid. Or just place the coin on a M-80 firecracker and light.
If you look into cleaning coins even on this forum you will see items like cleaning with battery acids, Vinegar, Lemon Juice, Laquer Thinners, Lime juice, jewlery cleaners, fingernail polishes, Tomato paste and on and on and on. OPPS, forgot Olive Oil.
Be carefull what you read on any internet place since you don't really know who is saying anything. Might just be some kid of 8 years old or someone that wants you to ruin your coins.
Take the time and use the Search Tab at the top for cleaning coins, coin cleaning, Acetone, etc.

Acetone (read and heed the safety warning on container label) is fairly safe (to common coins) for quickly cleaning organics(like the sticky gunky stuff that seems to coat coins from circulation).
HOWEVER: Here are seldom mentioned hazards of a simple acetone bath to circulated coins:
--If you put several coins in a small jar with acetone and swish the jar around... the coins will scrape together and cause damage. (even a coin by itself in a jar, swished around, can damage the surface)
--If you have a really dirty coin, like say an old Indian Head cent, and the acetone causes a big chunk of gunk to come off, it will often expose thr untarnished area underneath... this 'new looking' spot looks bad... looks like you cleaned the coin... which you did.

Not sure how or what you did for that research. But be carefull of just who says what about anything. People have a tendancy to say things that they really have no idea of what is really being said and they doo't have to either. Remember doing what someone says to YOUR coins has little effect on them. If you ruin your coins completely, they would simply say, to bad, dummy, I didn't know, I just copied that, etc. That is if they answer at all.
To start with using a jewlery type cleaner can, could, might, would, maybe do little to completely ruin a coin. I'm most instances they are Acid based and that could really do some damage. By all my statements that are possibles, that is due to almost no one knows what really is in many of those jewlery type cleaners.
I've tried to say this about almost any solution of anything many times. Any man made product can and usually does vary to some to extesive extents. Even the Olive Oils some claim do so much good could vary in what they contain to almost any extent. At a Walmart by me at the jewlery department they had 5 different types of cleaners and none really listed any extensive listings of what they really are.
As to what could, might, should, may, etc. happen to your coins is also as various as to the product you use to clean them. Acetone normally, and that too has been contraversial, has little effect on metals.
As to me being for or against dipping coins. I've been doint that for experimentation for well over 50 years now and I still say, if you don't know what your doing, DON'T DIP COINS IN ANYTHING.

When I use a Q tip I simply wipe it once with each side of the cotton end. I hardly think I am causing major damage, but hey I guess thats just my opinion.

My Morgans look wonderful, and they arent key dates. All is well.

Many of us learn the hard way. Sorry that you had that happen. As I mentioned, all man made substances can and do vary constantly. Even Olive Oils can contain excessive acids and other ingrediants. Manufacturers do this on purpose most of the time to protect their originality and attempting to keep their product a proprietary product. The one you used may well be what you really shouldn't have used. None of us really know what we have and are using most of the time.

My Sister grows and presses her own olive oil.
I have used it on some realy grotty roman coins.
The result after 6 months in oil is realy good.
Before the soak in oil there was absolutly no recognisable details on the coins, But after they came up great.
No toning removed but all the dirt and gunk fell off them.
There is no added acid in home made olive oil (It tastes far better than the store stuff as well).
See if you can get hold of some genuine oil without the additives,Even if you don't dip your coins in it Your steak will be a far better feed