How to get this gunk off

I bought this IHC at a show for $1 and it has pretty good detail for that price but it has this thick, black gunk on it and I want to know how to get it off without damaging the coin. I was thinking acetone or oil of some sort any other suggestions?

 

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It is a solid VF and is much lighter in hand. It's the kind of coin that I think could benefit from getting rid of that stuff.

 

I would try, in this order: Hot water soak, acetone, and olive oil soak.

The black stuff will almost certainly come off. The green stuff almost certainly will not.

 

Prepare 5 glasses (Not all the way full, just enough to submerge the coin ) of 100% pure acetone, do not use non-pure nail polish remover as it has other contaminants that could actually harm the coin. Place the coin in each for about a minute. Also it would be recommended to have distilled water ready for when you are done so you can rinse off the coin.

Acetone is non reactive with metals but is great for removing PVC.

Once you do it please note that there will be pitting underneath the green spots, but it will stop it from further damaging the coin.

Edit: I generally just soak a coin in a small glass of acetone for a while then rinse it off in the sink, as it is faster and doesn't waste so much acetone.

 

Alright thanks so much. I'll give it a try.

 

How long?

 

Oh yeah, make sure you rinse off the acetone before you put it back in a 2x2 as acetone melts plastic.
And needless to say dont use a plastic cup. And be mindful that sink pipes are plastic.

 

So how do I get rid of it?

 

Put it in a glass of 100% pure acetone for a couple minutes, rinse, repeat.
Oh yeah, dont put it near a candle as acetone is extremely flammable.

 

I use oliver for most of my corroded coins that i find with my detector and it works fine. I like your new avatar Freaky very clever indeed fits perfectly.

Jazzcoins Joe

 

No I meant how do I dispose of the acetone once I'm finished using it.

 

Hot water soak: I'd use pretty hot water for at least 30-60 minutes. You may want to dump out the old water and put in new, hot water every 10-15 minutes until finished. The black stuff should be loose by then and can be picked off, if it hasn't come off by itself already.

The acetone should just take several seconds, applied with a cotton swab.

The olive oil soak can go for 1-3 days.

As far as getting off the green stuff, I have no idea. Sometimes it comes off with the previous methods, but not often.

 

If you set the glass outside it will evaporate rather rapidly, it is non-hazardous to the environment.
Don't drink, inhale, ignite, expose to temps higher than 869', or bath in it and you should be fine.
And rinse off your hands when you are done.



Spontaneous vomiting may occur if swallowed.
Do not induce vomiting and keep head lower than hips to avoid aspiration if the incident does occur.
http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/A0446.htm

Disclaimer: I am not responsible for your actions.

 

I just soak the coin in acetone to get rid of the green gunk.

 

The green stuff isn't coming off anytime soon but I'm not worried about that because it's part of the coin. The black stuff is raised and is my real concern.

 

The green stuff SHOULD be your main concern. It is not part of the coin but actually a contaminant that is destroying and corroding the coin. Basically eating the coin.
The black stuff I believe is where the green stuff has done its damage and left.

An acetone soak should fix 'em both. :smile

 

Thanks. :smile

FG

 

I've got it in hot water right now. Would a soak in acetone work better than applying it with a cotton swab?

 

That is what I do. it is non reactive with metal so it should be safe.
Just let it soak, rinse, and get a toothpick and poke the green & black stuff if necessary, and repeat until done.
Make sure it is 100% pure acetone BTW.

 

I want to see after pics when you are done.