My grandfather passed away a few months ago and my mother has been going through his things and found a coin collection. However, all the coins were stacked according to what kind of coin they were, then wrapped in masking tape and kept in a coffee can. All the coins now have this sticky tape residue on them. Is there a safe way to remove this residue without damaging the coins? The coins are in otherwise good condition (to my rookie eyes). My mom thinks nail polish remover will do the trick to get the residue off but will that harm the coins?
Oik......Please post pictures so we can be sure but if it is tape residue do NOT use nail police remover onless it is 100% acetone! Make sure it is acetonbe only then it should be fine!
Nail polish remover is mainly acetone but it contains other chemicals, moisterizers, perfumes etc that do nothing for removing the residue and could potentially be damaging to the coins. You can get pure acetone in the paint department of any hardware store or Wal-Mart, and it will be much cheaper than the amount of fingernail polish remover you would need would be.
Your mother is almost correct. Use 100% Acetone to try first. It will not harm the coins. Finger nail polish usually contains acetone, but with many other components which might interact with the coin. You can find acetone at Walmarts, Home depot, Lowes, etc. Use a clean glass container and let soak in acetone until the tape is dissolved ( we hope) DO NOT RUB during process. Move the coins to another glass container with new acetone and let soak for a day or so. If you only have a metal lid for the container, I use a zip lock bag as a gasket over the top. I would do one last rinse after evidence of the tape disappears and hold each coin on the edge until all of the acetone evaporates. I do not rinse in water as that can add to the problem. NOTE: Acetone is very flammable. Do not use in the presence of Flames. In California, acetone can be allowed to evaporate into the air ( such as in the yard ). Do not reuse on coins. Masking tape is a little unusual to use on coins, usually clear tape, but I suspect it might work. Sometimes water works on tape residue. Do not rub the coin with anything, no matter how soft it seems. Photos would be good before and after. Welcome to the Forum! Your mom also! Jim
Thanks for the warm welcome! Ok, here's the worst of them. The tape doesn't seem to have left much, if any residue on the edges of the other coins. Although there is some dark 'gunk' stuck in the ridges(?) around the edge of some Canadian silver dollars but I don't think it's from the tape. I'll see if we can pick up some pure acetone.
