I have a question that I was hoping to get some help with. Recently, I purchased a pretty good assortment of coins with a few bank notes for a good price. I've been going through the coins since so many of them were purchased at melt or near melt and came across this one. This appears to be an pretty original coin with pretty good detail on both the obverse and reverse. The problem is those red marks on the obverse of the coin. They are located at about 10'oclock and at the date. To me, it really looks like someone colored this coin at some point with a red wax pencil or crayon. What can I do - if anything - to remove whatever this is? Or should I just leave it alone and just suck it up. I apologize for the photos - I've been working on trying to take better ones but I just winged these to be able to post and get your opinions. The white marks are from the camera and the color is darker than it appears in these photos - it's a gorgeous coin imo. Thanks in advance. d
Acetone bath but the color of the surface of the coin under the red may not match the rest of the coin.
Personally, I would leave it alone...or rinse it in acetone as recommended. But since it's not a great rarity...and if its appearance really bothered me, I would give it a vinegar/baking soda bath to remove the red marks and the crappy pea-green patina. I would then put it into an old album and look at it again in about ten (10) years...but that's just me (I'm sure others may dissent).
Always start with distilled water. Use the solvent polarity ladder. Soak in the following, in order until the problem is resolved: 1) distilled water 2) acetone 3) xylene NEVER use vinegar or baking soda. Sorry yakpoo, but they are a sure bet to completely ruin any coin.
+1 I wouldn't clean it. It might ruin the natural toning/patina. If the red spots are really driving you crazy, submit it to NCS. You'll probably pay more than the coin is worth to have the red removed, but they'll do it without ruining the rest of the coin.
I would agree that vinegar and/or baking soda will make a mess of copper and clad coins, but I've used it very effectively on 90% silver coins; coins that subsequently received very high grades from both NGC and PCGS. I experiment quite a bit with coin cleaning (on crappy coins)...somethings work, but most don't. Here's what I do for uncirculated silver coins... I fold a paper towel and put it in the bottom of a cereal bowl. I fill the bowl about halfway with boiling distilled water and add a couple of tablespoons of white wine vinegar. I place the coin in the solution and wait about an hour...til it cools down. I run my finger gently over the surface of the coin on both sides to ensure a uniform coating of the vinegar solution. I then add about a teaspoon of baking soda to the solution...just enough so it all reacts (foams) with the vinegar and there's no residual precipitate. I again gently run my fingers over the surface of the coin. The crud (and the toning) just wipes away. I rinse with distilled water and Presto Change-o, a brilliant silver coin with beautiful mint luster. I've tried this a variety of ways and nothing else seems to work. I'm not suggesting that anyone try this without first experimenting on scrap coins (I wouldn't/didn't)...but that's not to say you should be afraid to experiment. Always keep in mind that you may destroy the numismatic value of the coin if you make a mistake.
No to vinegar. It is an acid and will damage the original mint finish. TPG's sometimes make mistakes and cleanly grade coins that have been mishandled. No to lighter fluid, as well. Acetone is the correct treatment as others have said. You can pay NCS to do this but I wouldn't. Lance.
If it needs anything more than acetone then leave it alone IMO you will lesson the value if do more than just rinse in acetone.
I have removed crayon marks before. First get a piece of plastic that cannot harm the metal. Practice on another coin if you need to. Then, simply scrape it off. It sounds weird I know, but crayon will come off with soft plastic. Put it in the fridge for a bit before, this will help the crayon harden up and come off as one piece easier. If its not crayon then of course this will not work. Chris
