I received this 1885 morgan along with an 1883 from a trade with someone on this forum, and am EXTREMELY happy. Just one thing though, there is pink all over the back, it seems to be in one spot and then it kinda seems like it spread out through the rest of the back of it. My question is how can i remove that pink? included is a picture of the pink and a picture of the front to show how good of condition it is in other than the pink, a stunning coin other than that pink.. (the pictures are darkened it seems, but the morgan is really shiny, the obverse isn't that dull brownish grey as shown in the picture, it does have that brown toning by the stars though)
To clean or not to clean...that is the question. Start off with a water soak for 24-48 hours, but don't expect too much. If you use tap water, follow it off with a distilled water rinse. Next try xylene or toluene (some people don't like the smell of toluene, but I do...........). Finally try some acetone as a soak or with gentle cotton swab application. If this don't do it, let it be. The only other thing you COULD try would be a quick dip in some coin/jewelry dip solution to try and get some of the dark tarnish off. Too much and you end up with a slug.
Is it an actual residue, or just coloring? Maybe a soak an acetone would get the stuff off. If it won't come off, I hope you completed the trade knowing that there would be a pink stain or coloring before you got the coin in-hand...just MHO.
I will probably try that Kentucky. and it is an actual residue, I may try acetone, and yes I did know about the pink but got 2 morgans in great condition, except for the reverse of this one so I figured that it was worth it, if it does come off, I will be very happy with it, if it doesn't, I will still be happy with it
WOW rubbing it with acetone REALLY worked!!! turned it (only did the reverse, left the front how it is cause i like the toning on it) from that ugly pink and brown to nearly mirrored surfaces!!! thank you guys for your suggestions!!
Actually paper towels are really abrasive. The most I usually do is gently swab the surface with a cotton swab (Q-tip), although this is only REALLY important when dealing with MS-60 and above coins or proof coins.
For future reference, just soak it in acetone. You probably don't have to rub anything. Also, if the coloring on the front is tone, it won't be affected by the acetone.