PVC & Vinyl on Rag Paper

Kudos to the other lawyer on here for enhancing and improving the youth of America's logic!

I'm freaking out... after getting Mr. Irving's explanation of PVC and paper I looked at some of my bills and, low and behold, I HAVE DESTROYED THEM!! I don't know if its even worth trying to salvage them at this point. Many of my older small size bills are exactly like the "oil that is dry" and "translucent paper, like stamps used to come in" descriptions on the link posted above.

I always just thought that the paper was "like" that in the 1920s. Not that I had destroyed it.

The picture below (shot on a red cloth to enhance the color) is what is happening to my notes. The top one is a 1928 D with what I believe is major PVC damage. The bottom is an FRN with no damage I received from the bank last week. Compare even just the appearance. When you touch them, the top note is very, very slick and almost plastic-feeling.

Sigh....

 

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Thank you, and hopefully math skills.

Condolences regarding the damaged bill(s). It is not fun having something like that occur.

 

But archival safe items can be found even cheaper than that. My understanding is these sleeves are safe and they are $.29 each...less if you buy in bulk. http://www.wizardcoinsupply.com/product/supersafe-currency-sleeves-300-series-large.html

I have never used a BCW product for currency...but I have for sports cards. My understanding is PVC is safe, what makes it damaging is the presence of the plasticizers. If none are put in the material...it should be fine. I could be wrong though.

 

Sorry to hear about your currency.
I should have caught the math thing, I'm old enough to know better.

But I was told that young kids know everything so I thought there was no reason to check his math. I'll know better next time, and will for sure not take any of his advice, especially on coin and currency holders.
Bill Collector

 

He's just young and exuberant and is trying to be an individual. However, do take what he says with a grain of salt.

My quick thought is a coin dealer should not use PVC holders for anything sold at more than face value - it sends a wrong message that can cause trouble if not caught early.

 

I don't collect paper money specifically, but it probably hinges on whether other "serious" paper collectors think that such "conservation" is doctoring, in which the best case is not to say much about it.

Phthalates, the common plasticizer generally doesn't chemically react with paper-linen-cotton, etc. plant material, so there shouldn't be damage due specifically to it. The translucent appearance results when there is some damage to the fibers such as a fold or tear, so the plasticizer molecules can attach, but not chemically joined to the fibers. Acetone should be able to remove it, if it isn't other type of plastic materials. I would use a glass container with a flat bottom larger than the bill so it can lay flat, immerse the bill in pure acetone and allow to stay for a minute or so, and then, lift the bill free in hand and pour some other pure acetone over the bill and allow to drain off. Dry and if the material is still there, repeat with fresh acetone. If it doesn't come off after 2 tries, it is probably something else. There are other plasticizers than phthalates and some fall into the epoxy area which acetone won't remove.

Don't used if there is added inked notations or signatures that are important and wasn't part of the original print ink.
Determine if the fold or tear will separate further without the "stuff" holding it together before any treatment.

Some may consider this as "cleaning" other than conserving, so this is just for informational purposes ! IMO.

Jim

 

Sounds like good advice, but just to be safe I would try it on a non valuable note, or one that can easily be replaced.
Bill Collector

 

I understand what your saying but his advice could be hurtful to new collectors.

Like I said, I would sooner be safe than sorry and any dealer wanting to save even a $ 1.00 on a holder that has maybe a $ 50.00 + coin or piece of currency in it is someone that I would not care to deal with. Like I said before, who knows how long that dealer had the item in PVC.
Bill Collector

 

That is true.

 

[h=3]Dupont® Melinex Currency Sleeves[/h]These museum quality currency holders are used world wide by leading currency dealers and auction houses. This exceptional currency sleeve will protect your currency for decades. Used by the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institute. Made in the USA.

 

I think this weekend I'm going to try out desertgem's procedure on some of my bills, take notes and photographs, and then post the results here. That way there will be a record of what is good / bad in repairing PVC damaged notes on CT to people and look into it in the future. I'll probably make a new thread for searching purposes. Hopefully it will be a "this is how you do it" thread, and not a "don't do it this way if you want to keep your notes and fingers intact" thread.

 

Just try it on a worthless or inexpensive bill first for practice.

I look forward to your anticipated success and reporting of same.

 

Keep in mind that it may not be PVC/plasticizer damage after all. Some collector who owned them before you might have tried to reinforce folds or tears with other materials. If the damage has occurred within your ownership, then it is likely it is. I guess I should have stated something rather obvious to me~ " use on a very low value bill first ", although I would be shocked if it looked worse coming out of the experiment than it went in

To reconfirm my original memories, I did immerse a well folded , small tear, ball point ink mark ( large 11 number) for 5 minutes with no ill effect, although a little of the transparency effect did decrease, Maybe some of transparency effect is not due to PVC, but sebum ( oil) from the skin on handling the bills if they are circulated heavily. Acetone would help on this aspect also. IMO.
Jim

 

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I'm sorry but if its $50 or a $1... as a collector, I would opt for the better product; No matter the price!

 

Glad I found this site and oddly this subject! As I am looking to purchase several currency protective sleeves....for long storage. Can you give me the names of some brands or company of a good quality product with no PVC??

 

Well, a disclaimer: I don't work for; own stock in; nor am I related to any of the folks I recommend for holders.
1. Denly's of Boston: used them for over 30 years
2. Beate Rauch (Las Vegas): used them for over 25 years (bought huge supply when they moved from Los Angeles to Vegas; they paid shipping)
3. Sellitstore: just started using them, excellent holders

I'm sure there are others just as good but these three are SQUARE shooters and will treat you right and will make it right if there's a screwup. And above all they are trustworthy and are customer oriented. Just good folks.

Testimonial: I've NEVER had a note or check or bond or stock certificate "go bad" using their holders and I've had some "stuff" in their holders for YEARS.

 

Not All Mylar is Archival
http://cool.conservation-us.org/byorg/abbey/an/an13/an13-5/an13-507.html

 

From the Denly's of Boston website regarding their holders:

"These 4 millimeter holders are the finest quality made today from Dupont's Mylar D® or equivalent film. These are the holders we use and are also used by the leading paper money dealers and auction firms. This product is now used by the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institute. Mylar D® is the purest material presently used for currency storage and will keep your notes for decades. When ordering holders, please provide us with a street address so your order may be shipped via UPS. All Mylar D® bank note holders and sheet holders are sent postpaid!"

I'll go through website for the others I listed and see what's there.

 

Thanks techwriter !
Have another question did dupont really quit making these??

 

I believe so, however the formula probably was part of the package deal when sold or the equivalent. I'll check with local archives here and may even ask the LOC.
Just to add a note, remember "Mylar D" was a registered trademark so maybe it went along or ??; I'm not into patent or trademark law so I must take refuge behind lack of knowledge (better known as ignorance)