Hello all, new to this forum and trying to determine if I should attempt to clean a few badly toned (tarnished?) silver dollars I've had for quite a few years. I hadn't looked at them in 15 yrs or so and to my dismay, some of them are looking really bad. Large areas of almost black to blue-black. I'm a real noob when it comes to coin collecting and would really like to correct this excessive dark toning, but afraid to try any cleaning without some experienced advice from the more knowledgeable gurus on this forum. Also, looking around on another site, I saw reference to a product called trichlorotriflouroethane. Has anyone heard of this stuff and would it be safe and suitable to try and correct this without damaging the coins? Thank you for any input or advice.
We really need pics to see how badly toned they are. What may look terrible to you may not mean much to other collectors. I love toned coins but I'm really picky on what toned coins I like, capeesh?
Welcome to Coin Talk. Don't try anything until you hear from the experts. I just googled it. It was used primarily used as a dry cleaning agent and as a refrigerant (Freon 113). Never heard of it's recent use re cleaning coins.
Some people did use it , if you believe their posts, it was also used in dry cleaning clothes and furs, etc. Unfortunately it is not good for the ozone barrier so many/most states, countries banned it except under special license ( saying you can recapture it). It would not take off toning just organic crud, IMO. I seem to remember it was much more dangerous than acetone, etc. There are many posts on the use of silver dips such as EZ-est, and most circulated coins would look worst than with the toning unless solid black. IMO, Jiml
Thank you for looking in Longshot.The tarnish/toning is real bad. Sorry and apologize, I don't have a camera suitable to take good pics right now. My bad.
Hey fretboard thanks for checking in! Ya, know what you mean about types of tone. A matter of taste, like fine wine or such. I gotta clue nobody wants this kind of marking on their coin. Sorry I don't have any pics, but will get a suitable camera shortly to upload pics. My bad.
Hi thomas, thanks for the input. Ya! been doin' sum more research and this stuff don't look good for anybody to mess with.
Hi desertgem! Thanks for looking in on my question! Yup! That stuff don't look good to handle. Plus it doesn't address my problem. Sorry I posted in here without pics. Wasn't prepared. Will post pics as soon as possible with correct camera. Thank you for your support.
The toning is the least of your problems, there is a huge scratch across the obverse devices. And your coin has the look of a coin that has already been over dipped in the past. That blue/violet toning is the telltale sign of secondary toning. Is this your only coin or are there more?
Oh wow! Thanks for looking Lehigh! I have another one looks about the same way. Didn't even think about it possibly being dipped before I got them. Maybe this is why these two show the ugly toning and the older coins with it don't? I knew they where circulated and was happy to get a couple of bright shiny coins. Is there any positive way to verify they have been over dipped and what would that do to their value?