A question about Restoration Methods

Here's an example of a 1936d Walking Liberty that was stored for 70 plus years and has picked a bit of spotting. I wondered if anyone would do anything to it or just leave it alone. There are a few green spots and brown spots. The brown may well be flecks of dirt. Two individuals suggested acetone. One suggested using a q-tip, but I don't want to damage it in anyway.

 

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Can i see the reverse?

cleaning a coin is usually a bad idea, using a q-tip shouldn't hurt the value, but dont clean it using any sort of acid at ALL, this will destroy the value of it.
however, wait for someone else to come on before you start.

 

It almost looks like there is paint on the rim...I see a red and a green color. I'm not sure what will take that off. I don't know if acetone will or not. Fortunately, this coin is a common date and is probably only worth melt as is...so I'm not sure how much real "damage" could be done...at least in a value sense.

 

Only in the sense that this coin is probably only worth melt to begin with so it can't go any lower. In general, a q-tip is a bad idea IMHO. They are made from cotton fibers which can scratch the coin.

 

I agree with camaro it is not worth much over melt.

The melt price for this coin right now is $7.0024 USD

 

who knew?
man, cotton is dangerous.....
what about a cloth?

 

Take it to Rick's

 

Absolutely...if you wipe a coin with a cloth you will see hairlines. Try it yourself. Pull a new quarter out of circulation and run it with a cotton cloth...you will get hairlines indicative if a harsh cleaning.

 

Silver coins, yes, copper nickel clad coins, no.
It takes something much harder than cotton to scratch copper nickel clad quarters.
Copper plated cents, yes since copper is much softer than nickel.

Regardless, care must be exercised before going at your coins because once they are damaged, there's no going back.

 

i corrected part of your quote for you.
you're welcome

 

You can still do it on clad coins. Takes a little more force, but it can be done.

Actually, it was supposed to be "rub" not "ruin." On well.

 

i know, i was having fun...
jeez, tough crowd....

 

I would use acetone. No rubbing. No q-tips.

 

Ever heard of dip?

You're welcome.

 

Rock tumbler.... definitely.




























KIDDING!!!!!!

 

LOL...I just couldn't do it. I wanted to...but I just couldn't.

 

thank ya'

 

why not?

 

Not sure from the pics, but it looks like that coin has been dipped, not too many years ago, maybe 5 to 10. So, it looks like most of what can be cleaned off, has been, and it looks like the brown spots have begun to pit (eat into) the coin, the green looks like PVC damage. Since the later does make the coin worth close to melt., I’d have some fun experimenting with some different (some harsh) cleaning methods – could be some great lessons learned. Aside from these problems with the coin, it’s a lousy strike too, so it wouldn’t be worth much, even if it could be cleaned up.

 

I didn't want it to come across as rude. When I saw that I thought about it and laughed...but I didn't post it.