Hey all! I gave this coin an acetone dip and it took care of some of the green corrosion but not all of it. I want to put this in my Whitman album (the kind that shows both sides of the coin) for Liberty V Nickels. Will this corrosion spread through the album or should it be fine? I'm in Colorado (pretty dry climate) so it may be alright? What do you all think? Maybe I'll just sell it and keep looking for a problem-free example. No need to rush on the set I suppose.
Soak it in acetone, if it is PVC then it will disappear. If it is Verdigris, then sell it if you want a better looking example.
This is after acetone. Some went away not all. Do you think this can spread? I think I better not dare test it haha.
when a coin is thick with PVC I roll a qtip in different directions while wet, no rubbing just roll. It may take a few soaks and rolls.
No it will not ! To understand why it won't, and can't, all you have to do is understand what verdigris actually is. The easiest way to do that is to think of it like this - verdigris is simply the result of copper corroding. Verdigris is the same thing to copper as what rust is to iron or steel. Both are formed on their respective metals as a result of moisture and the air causing the metal to corrode. Iron and steel get rust on them, copper gets verdigris on it. So one coin that already has verdigris on it doesn't mean that other coins around it will get verdigris on them as well. The only way any coin can get verdigris on it is if and when there is sufficient moisture and air to cause that coin to corrode. Limit the amount of moisture and air flow as much as possible and it simply won't happen.
I appreciate the lengthy and informative response! I have quite a background in chemistry so your reasoning makes sense. For some reason my superstition always gets the better of me haha. Thanks for the info.
PCV damage is not organic. It does not spread like a cancer. It is confined to where the chemicals are.
The coin you showed is 75 copper/25 nickel. Verdigris is from the copper components, which you mentioned removing and I do not notice much green components on the coin. But remember 25% is Nickel which corrodes to more bluish deposits. Yours remaining spots appear to be rather bluish than green. There are acids that are quite potent that could probably remove the color, but it is the same acid people used to use to dissolve metal from these and buffalo 5 cents so they could see a blurry date better. Personally I would leave it as it is. Jim
This is a very common coin in poor condition. Unless it has sentimental value, just buy one for a dollar or so at a coin shop in better condition.
Many thanks to those who have commented! I will try this with some nicer coins I have with PVC damage. How long do you tend to soak coins? Yep, that was my thought. Put it on eBay (waiting for a bid lol), and I'll pick up a more problem-free coin in the future. No need to rush and get hole-fillers that don't fit my taste.
Acetone will not hurt coins so you can soak overnight. It depends on the amount of damage to the coins. A second soak may be necessary. Please keep your PVC damaged coins away from your other coins and remember that acetone evaporates.
