an OLD question re-asked " Is there a way to get black off of silver coin without looking cleaned?"

I may have to resort to the unthinkable but to prove a point I will if there is no other solution. Once I see all the answers I'll go from there.

 

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ketchup!!! (please don't listen to me)

 

Hey @mrweaseluv. Mustard and relish too? Nice Penny by the way!!

 

actualy the acid in ketchup is just enough to beautifuly polish silver and remove any tarnish... just please don't use it on coins... never never never on a coin...

 

I have a Error coin I am 99% sure it is punched on an 1920 Argentina dime. Lots of "white" showing but also lots of dark. To prove my point I might have to use silver polish. So before i use silver polish is there anyone with a serious answer? With all the gold and errors including the brokage cent, I have proven to be a serious Error collector. If you don't have an answer it's ok. The last picture is NOT mine but one to compare to that is slabbed.

 

Perhaps one for Mr.Weinberg to peek at.

 

With the possibility of an error like that, I would work really hard to find someone who could point an XRF gun at it before I'd try any kind of cleaning or dipping.

If it's what you suspect, I'd be inclined to turn it over to NCS or ICG for evaluation and conservation (and, of course, slabbing).

 

would a Jeweler have such a weapon?

 

Some do. I believe one in my area advertised that they had one, but I haven't been over to check.

There was one dealer who brought one to the big Raleigh show this year, but when I went back with things to test the second day, he wasn't there.

Hang on -- I just looked up "1920 Argentina dime composition", and the result I saw was 3 grams of cupronickel?! If what you have really is struck on a cupronickel planchet, that's a very different conservation task. I've seen those colors frequently on nickels, and I've been told there's not much chance of removing them. If I get more time, I'll try to find the relevant thread here.

 

To add to what @-jeffB said, the US mint made 75%copper, 25%Nickel planchets for Argentina in 1919 and 1920. This is the same comp as the US nickel. The specs on the 10 centavo planchet are 3.00 grams and 19.00 mm dia, so it is very close to the size of a US cent

As Jeff said, a handheld XRF should be able to confirm the composition very quickly. You should also be able to determine if its plated

If it's the 75Cu25Ni composition, trying to clean will likely be a disaster (think of all the nickels and clad metal detecting finds that have been posted).

I wouldn't get my hopes up and the weight is slightly more than it should be (plating?), but the appearance is enough of a "maybe" to do an XRF, IMO

 

I would agree with @-jeffB and @Oldhoopster , do not touch it, get a reader to check composition, and if it is nickel you have basically no chance yourself if cleaning it. If it is nickel, NGC conservation could be a route, but nickel is tricky, the results could be worst than current.

 

brillo

 

That mushy appearance makes me think that it has been plated.
I agree with everyone above.

 

look at the weight of the example slab @3.18 grams mine is 3.2 grams I think I'll take it to a Jeweler to scan with the instrument and let you folks know. THEN I might brillo pad, ketchup, sandblast it lol. Thanks for the in-put to the serious helpers.

 

Argentine planchet might be thinner than a US cent not allowing a good strike too.

 

Like others here, I wouldn't take a chance on such a coin. If you can't find someone with an XRF, send it in for authentication. You wouldn't be able to live with yourself if you tried to clean it and messed it up, finding out later it was that error.

 

True but I have had this coin for about 20 years and everytime I prove I think it's real, I find other thing to prove it's not. I am going to take it to a jeweler here in town that has a degree in Metals (I didn't know there was such a thing) and put this to rest once and for all.

 

Spend the money and send it for NCS conservation services and get it attributed like the one you posted. put that 20 year conundrum to rest already.... jeesh, peace of mind is priceless.

They'll probably send it over to Fred anyways. LOL
That would be the conclusive way to do it,, not some jeweler in town. if you are 99% sure, nobody is going to prove you or anyone else that last 1% of doubt that is is what it is except for a slab.

And with that, I'd like to add, grading don't get cheaper as the years pass. hahahaha.

oh and one more thing to add, this is exactly what the film looks like that builds up on CuNi pipes on ships when handling seawater for a few years.

 

I wouldn't try to conserve that myself, if it did come back as a foriegn planchet, send it to the pro's, even if it came back in a details slab, it has a nice circam look.

 

Thanks folks, your professional opinion matters.