Hello all, I semi-recently cherrypicked this 1812 large cent. I am 99% sure it is a genuine clipped planchet due to the pretense of the Blakesley effect, but my question is what is the best/safest way to remove the green stuff on the reverse. I am unfamiliar with any sort of coin restoration and since I will be looking to sell this coin, want to try to make it as nice as possible. Another follow up I have is that since I don't think it would straight grade currently (Due to the possible environmental damage), do you think after any restoration, this coin would be wort submitting for grading and get VF? Prices for early classic head clips like this seem to be pretty volatile ($100-$200). Any opinions would be greatly appreciated as I am not the numismatist I once was!
Thanks for the tip! I was thinking acetone but I've never used it. I've read you need to use pure acetone. Any particular brand or place I should get it or as long as the bottle says pure acetone then its fine?
I'm not the acetone specialist, but I think normal pure acetone is what everyone uses. Easily bought at a Home Depot, Lowe's, etc.
As Fred mentioned, acetone from a hardware store is probably the best to use but there are many "homemade" formulas for removing verdigris so you might do a CT search for those. Try it on a lesser coin that you can experiment on.
verdigris a bright bluish-green encrustation or patina formed on copper or brass by atmospheric oxidation, consisting of basic copper carbonate. I didn't realize acetone would remove this.
It won't. It will remove dirt, grease, organic material, but the only verdigris it will remove is stuff that is already loose, and that is strictly from the mechanical action of the Q-tip, not the acetone.
