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 Replies: 16 / Views: 2,408 |
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Valued Member
United States
53 Posts |
One of the Morgan dollar coins I received from my grandfather has a serious green issue. What's your diagnosis? And is it treatable? Or is it doomed?   Thanks for your input, -Lance- |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4132 Posts |
Looks like PVC plasticizer damage. Might be able to treat it with acetone.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4416 Posts |
I heartily concur with the captain's diagnosis. The PVC likely migrated from an old holder. You can apply the acetone (hardware store, NOT nail polish remover) with one end of a Q-tip, massaging gently. Use the dry end to lift the residue. You'll likely need to repeat the process, doing both sides and the rim. You can dry it with a soft cloth, afterwards. Avoid putting the coin in an old flip that has PVC. As this is a common, lower grade date, there's no downside with this form of cleaning; that is, in this case, more appropriately defined as conservation. Show us an after pic, please.
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Pillar of the Community
2224 Posts |
I agree, resuscitate her.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3453 Posts |
What's wrong with your coin? It doesn't belong to me!
(kidding...kinda). These guys have excellent advice - please follow it and then enjoy her.
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Valued Member
 United States
53 Posts |
I set aside a small amount of acetone last night from a can I have a had for a while.  If it passes the evaporation test, I'll get to work. Otherwise, it's off to the hardware store for me. CoinsKelly, definitely going to enjoy her.  That's why I am worried about her condition -- would hate for any further damage to occur. |
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Valued Member
United States
53 Posts |
Finally got a chance to some conservation work last night.
The acetone worked like a charm. Dipping a Q-Tip in the acetone and gently blotting in a rocking motion lifted the hideous goo right off. It definitely took some patience to make sure the PVC had been removed from every nook and cranny, but I think it was worth the effort.
So thanks again to everyone for the advice. I will take some pictures and post them soon.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19961 Posts |
Yep, definately PVC....glad you got it conserved!
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Pillar of the Community
2224 Posts |
 of the new life you gave her. |
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Pillar of the Community
1028 Posts |
I scrolled down to just see the obverse and thought "hmmm, well that looks fine to me"....then I scrolled further and thought "whoa". Yeah PVC damage. Good to hear you fixed it.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1151 Posts |
Good save! Show us some pics!
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Valued Member
United States
53 Posts |
Call it imagination or my tendency to anthropomorphize, but I think she looks quite a bit happier.   There was also what seemed to be the remnants of some sort of adhesive on the reverse, mostly on the rim and wings. It was a brownish-gold color and had a bit of thickness. It also lifted off fairly readily to the same process. Edited by coinhop
09/27/2011 05:31 am
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Rest in Peace
United States
5375 Posts |
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Valued Member
Australia
278 Posts |
thats it, acetone is on the hardware store list for this weekend.
Thanks for sharing the before and after.
Gecko
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1304 Posts |
Looks much better. Thanks for the after acetone pic.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4132 Posts |
Huge improvement. I would give it a couple more rinses or soaks in fresh acetone to be sure that every last bit of the green goo is gone, but I'd say you've saved that coin!
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Replies: 16 / Views: 2,408 |
Posted 09/23/2011 3:43 pm
