I want to clean it so bad!

I keep finding those dang video coins and I found this 1924 wheat cent but it has something sticky all over it. The reverse looks like it was maybe wet or it has a Kool aid stain look to the middle.. of course I watched a YouTube video and I really wish I had a good find.. but I don't think so.. so should I learn how to clean it up?

 

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It almost looks corroded, particularly on the reverse but it might just be the picture. There's no harm in trying to clean it up really as in the condition it's in it's only worth a cent, maybe $.03

I'd suggest soaking first in distilled water, probably for 24 hours. Then soak in PURE acetone (do NOT use finger nail polish remover) I use the stuff you can get at the hardware store, not as good as lab grade but has served me well. Search here on the forum for an in depth explanation on how to properly soak in acetone. Basically you want to use a progression of containers, I use 3.

You could also graduate to Xylene, I have no experience with that but all 3 of these things are safe to use and all remove different types of "schmootz"

 

@Jeepfreak81 how long do you soak it (copper) in the acetone? I have read keeping in acetone too long can give copper coins a pinkish tint or color. Has this ever happened to one of your coins?

 

Here is one of mine that had glue on it. I soaked it in acetone and the glue came off easy. But, you can see that the surface under th e glue was mint surface shiny. And, I am posting the remnant of glue that came off.

 

The one I posted above was in acetone for only a few minutes.

 

Since it is winter, many people may have open flames for heat or cooking, acetone vapors are flammable so caution is needed. Whether acetone can affect metals data is About 99.99 do experiments that say no and 0.01% say yes. I have read most all ~are on the internet someplace. Put a copper in acetone in a sealed glass container and check every few years. We have acetone in our bodies by metabolism of carbohydrates break down so small amounts of handling it is seldom a problem

Jim

 

Thank you.. I wasn't sure if I should.. I do see a few how to videos and I only have the nail polish remover acetone so I will investigate and give it a try.

 

Most of the time I'm only soaking things for 10 minutes at most, just to clear of stuff from circulation or being handled recently or whatever the case may be.

However I have soaked some lincolns overnight with no ill effects. I've also read there was some study done by someone, once upon a time, that had an issue. But iirc the coins were soaked a very long time.

 

Oh bloody hell.....give it a soak in some sudsy dishwashing liquid and a quick rinse with some distilled (depending upon which part of the country you come from) water. Nothing harsh there, and it should take care of the gummy substance. Upon doing that post some more photogs......

 

That coin looks like a good candidate for liberating back to circulation.

 

IMO…your coin may only need a soak in some hot water for few minutes to get that gunk off. But then be sure to rinse it separately and pat dry with a paper towel or soft kitchen towel. NEVER RUB. Always pat dry gently.

Knowing what you use on coins and how they affect them is a challenge, so do your homework. F’rinstance: don’t use ketchup…that is acidic and will turn copper pink. And, no to toothpaste…too abrasive.

So research what you use and experiment with trash coins before you put anything on your keepers…Spark

Edited to add: Your coin is a G4 BN listing at NumisMedia/FMV for 15 cents.
@lardan

 

That is what I do. But, I only use Dawn. If it is good enough to clean oil from ducklings it is good enouogh for me.

 

No. The discussions from a couple of years ago pointed out that the reaction with copper came from just one study, which used some very extreme conditions, and which was not supported by any other research. So, the idea of turning pink is dubious.

That said, you may want to look at my post over in Post Your Lincolns. The removal of a varnish layer (or whatever it was) occurred in stages. The first rinse with distilled water would remove salts and other water soluble compounds. The rinse with acetone will break down any organic buildup. The xylene apparently dissolves a different set of organics.

None of the steps will attack metals or minerals that are part of the grunge. If they are just mixed in with some oily crud, they may just drift away when that is dissolved. On the other hand, once the other components of the dirt are removed, these remaining contaminants may remain. As a thin layer on top of the copper, they can cause thin-film color effects.

In my post, you can see how a brown gunk can get reduced to bright pinks, blues, and purples.

But it is not correct to say that the acetone turned the coin pink. The existing contaminants had already done that - but it could not yet be seen.

 

Thank you.

 

Huh?

 

Freaky

 

Years you say. Hope it removes finger prints. I didn’t understand your answer

 

I took it for a joke. It ain’t gonna turn copper pink no matter how long anyone waits. (Of course in my basement the acetone completely evaporates in a few days so I couldn’t wait a couple of years anyway.)

But if someone wants to believe the one weird experiment they deserve to spend a few years watching a penny sit in acetone!

 

This was a courtesy tag since you liked my previous post. I edited after your like.
I guess it was to give you a chance to un-like it in case you didn’t like the addition. I don’t think you wouldn’t like added info, but here we are…Spark

 

Put that piece of glue on the rest of the coin and wait a few years. Lol