Another Acetone Quetion

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by Yacorie, Mar 10, 2013.

  1. Yacorie

    Yacorie Junior Member

    Ok so I've searched and read through most of the acetone threads to see what was recommended by folks, results, techniques etc. I have a specific question. I have a few seated quarters that have what looks like PVC on them that needs to go. I started soaking the first one about 15 hours ago and while I haven't taken it out of the glass yet - looking down on it - it doesn't look any different. I know the threads say to leave it for 24 hours for the first soak so that is my plan - at least 24 hours.

    My question is - do you just leave it soaking until the stuff goes away, even if it takes a few days or at some point do you have to use a q-tip or something to help it go away. I'm really hoping it just goes away on it's own because I don't really want to mess with the surfaces myself.

    This is a picture of the obv that looks like it has the PVC on it.

    Thanks in advance

    [​IMG]
     
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  3. Victor

    Victor Coin Collector

    Some of the tougher junk won't always go away.
     
  4. kookoox10

    kookoox10 ANA #3168546

    PVC is usually determined as a hazy green on the the surface of the coin. The far advanced stage is much more detrimental and apparent, sometimes at this stage it's not cleanable.

    on your coins, it just looks like a smeared on gunk, old grease maybe.
     
  5. rlm's cents

    rlm's cents Numismatist

    Acetone will take PVC off almost immediately. It does not take long at all. However, the reason you are removing the PVC is because it eats the coin. Once that has started, it can never be removed.
     
  6. Kentucky

    Kentucky Supporter! Supporter

    Give it a try with some xylene and with some distilled water (in separate bathings). That would cover the range of polarities.
     
  7. Tom B

    Tom B TomB Everywhere Else

    I've never left a coin in acetone for more than about 30-seconds. A 24-hour soak seems nuts.
     
  8. Yacorie

    Yacorie Junior Member

    Thanks for the information folks. If thats the case - if the other steps don't work I guess I'll only be left with trying to remove it physically which I really would rather not do.

    Any reason that I shouldn't leave the coin as is if the soak(s) don't do the job?
     
  9. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    I don't see anything on your coin that really looks like PVC residue, that's why the acetone isn't doing anything.

    To me, the yellowish, or light brownish color if you prefer, looks like toning. The black spots, that too is toning but I believe it is toning that was caused by some specks of something that got on the coin at some point in its life.

    To remove either the black or the yellow color, I think you would have to dip the coin. And if you don't know what a coin dip is, it's an acid. If dipped properly, the yellowish color should just go away. The black spots might go away, but they also might leave behind spots that are either darker or lighter than the rest of the coin is after being dipped. In other words, it's highly possible you would still see where the black spots used to be. Only they wouldn't be black anymore.

    All of that said, if you have no experience at dipping coins, then you should not try to dip a coin because it all too easy to ruin the coin and make it worse than it is. So your best course of action is to just leave it alone.


    edit - I recommend soaking the coins for 24 hrs because sometimes once PVC residue has dried out it can be kind of tough to get off the coin. Yeah, a half hour might do it, or 2 minutes might, or an hour might - you just don't know. And since letting the coin soak for 24 hrs isn't going to hurt anything, and since it will definitely be a long enough time to remove anything that acetone is capable of removing, that's why when I wrote up the proceedure for folks, I said to let it soak 24 hrs. That way, everything is covered.
     
  10. desertgem

    desertgem Senior Errer Collecktor

    Yacorie, are you specifically speaking of the greenish dots under the '8' of the date? That could be the corrosion where PVC plasticizers /acids were once but the pvc component ( essentially colorless) would have been removed in minutes by the acetone. Corrosion or surface damage stays. Since you have immersed it in acetone so long, when removed and dried, any moisture still on/in corrosion centers is gone. Proper storage will prevent it from increasing. Dipping is a possibility with all of the cautions Doug mentions above. Although it is not mentioned on the 'dip' bottles, it is just a chemical solution and dilution of a 1/2 ounce with 5 or more ounces of distilled water will slow down any reaction by a factor of approx. 10. Thus you can dip and rinse/observe and redip to stop when it is at a point you can accept. Yes things could end up worse, so take that into consideration. Commercial 'Dip' is quite strong, most often too strong, especially for new users of it. IMO.

    Jim
     
  11. Yacorie

    Yacorie Junior Member

    Thanks again for the responses.

    Yes - I was thinking the dots under the 8, on the sheild and liberties right thigh area were PVC but it's certainly possible that it's not.

    I've never dipped a coin and wouldn't dip it. I don't mind the color but wanted to get rid of the PVC if that is what it is.

    When I'm finished with it - I'll post a picture of the end result but I won't be dipping it. I'll just put it in a 2x2 for now. I figured that I would add the 3 seated quarters to my eventual first submission batch but they won't slab it if it's PVC damage, right?
     
  12. sunflower

    sunflower New Member

    I vote for a submitting it to a professional conservation service.
     
  13. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    I'm feel fairly confident the green specs are verdigris. And no the acetone will not take them off.

    Listen, rather than you messing with the coins trying to improve them, just sell them as is. And then buy coins that you are happy with as they are. That really is the best thing to do.
     
  14. Yacorie

    Yacorie Junior Member

    I can appreciate that and to be honet, I like the coins but didn't want to ignore something that i would regret later. I have a tendency to not want to mess with things and find out later that I would have been better of doing so.

    I finished the coin this morning and the soaks and rinses didn't take the stuff away so I tried to see if it would move with a toothpick. As soon as I touched the toothpick to the spot under the 8 it just fell away. I used a toothpick to clean off the 3-4 darker spots with almost no effort. I took a photo but now I have to find my camera cord.
     
  15. Yacorie

    Yacorie Junior Member

    Here it is - I found the cord. Put it in a 2x2 and away

    [​IMG]
     
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