Does anyone know the background of using shellac on coins? I have two wheat cents, a 1910 S and a 1914 D. that was coated with what appears to be shellac. I'd like to try removing it but I don't want to do any further damage to the coin. It's obvious in hand there is something on the coin but it doesn't show in photos that well.
Speaking as an old school woodworker here.... Shellac is probably one of the earliest clear coat products out there. It did a good job and was durable. It is also easily dissolved with denatured alcohol. But I won't say if denatured alcohol is good or bad for your coin coz I don't know.
Maybe it's lacquer and not shellac? I know it used to be common to lacquer coins to preserve them, and I think the Canadian mint used to lacquer their specimen coins as standard practice. My avatar image is one such coin, which I had ANACS conserve. I don't know what they used to remove it. I had no idea it was even on there.
I bought a couple old Lincolns that were from an old collection and coated. I complained to the eBay seller and he refunded. Said to keep them. About an hour in acetone and into my Dansco. No problem
yes, it could easily be lacquer. I figured it was to preserve the condition I just wasn't aware if it was something odd or an accepted practice. I receive them in a batch of coins and they were the only two like that. And I'm not sure if I should try to remove it (and how) or just leave it alone.
Back when I was in my woodshop daily making pieces for folks it was common practice for me to lacquer a cent and recess it into the piece to date it for the folks I that I had built it for.
I believe it was done for preservation of the coin. I have found wheat cents with a clear coating of lacquer/shelac on them. Acetone should remove ether one without damaging the coin.
I found one of those behind the door plate at my first house when I was stripping and painting it. I can't recall noticing if it was lacquered or not, dated 1935. I put it back when I was done and added a 1998 cent.
My first grading book I bought back in the 70’s by J. Ruddy talked about putting fingernail polish on coins to preserve them from tarnishing and album rubbing. Easily removed by polish remover ( acetone ) Still have many coins in my older albums with 50+ old fingernail polish on them.
Be advised that fingernail polish remover is acetone but it has additives that will cause damage to coins. Acetone that should be used on coins needs to be a higher grade like the industrial type.
I'm glad the OP asked this question because I have a Lincoln 1909-S cent with either a shellac or lacquer coating. I'm reluctant to start an acetone soak in case only some of the coating gets removed and now I have a bigger mess on my hands. Anyone actually tried to remove a coating like the OP's or my own coins?
I do not think Fingernail removers have any chemicals that can react with coin metal. There is however chemicals such as MEK and others in some removers that can badly affect humans if absorbed or sniffed for fun. iMo, Jim
I think two of the common additives for fingernail polish removers are lanolin and perfume, neither one of which I would like to put on a coin. It wouldn't necessarily harm the coin, but could leave a sticky residue that would collect schmutz.
