Before and After Cleaning

If it ain't acetone I'd be very interested to know what you used.........

 

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Nah, before the fact........WD25.

 

Vinegar...?

 

So, we're still guessing? No one has guessed correctly yet?
Everclear?

 

Photoshop!

 

olive oil, paint thinner, microwave,...

 

soap, mineral spirits, petroleum jelly,...

 

Are there coins that are ok to clean and ones that you shouldn't?

 

Nope nobody has got it yet!!

 

You should have seen these coins before I cleaned them..

 

The coin Camreno posted is a common date with problems that go beyond being dirty. If he made this thread with an 1881 CC morgan (even of similar quality), the place would be silent until somebody gained the courage to ask him what he thought he was doing. Any time an attempt is made to improve the eye appeal of a coin, there is a strong possibility that irreparable damage will occur. I try to avoid any sort of altercation. Unfortunately, there are times where the damage will cause more damage and must be dealt with.

 

@Sandy_NS

Short answer, Yes. Long answer, so many variables that it would make a nice little pamphlet or book. Fortunately some of the do's & don't are taught in ANA's seminars by Brian Silliman, a former NCS employee. What you can only learn by trial and error are some of the trade secrets (chemicals and technique) that are kept confidential. In this day of computers, there are fewer secrets than you would guess. The OP has one; however, I highly doubt it is used at any of the professional services.

At two of the labs I've visited (NCS and ICG) coins sent for conservation (anything other than things like common gold, SE and low value coins) are prescreened because some coins cannot be helped. Only the top guy at each service touches the expensive coins (Dave Camire at NCS & Mike Fazzari at ICG). Mike started NCS with Dave. I've read in several places that David Hall prescreens and conserves the (expensive ?) PCGS coins. I believe ANACS conserves coins; however, I don't know anything about that.

There are probably several dozen professional coin dealers who do an excellent job. If I had to come up with a motto for "The School of Conservation" it would be: "Non nocere, Nullum uestigium." "Do no harm, leave no trace"

 

I don't even think that's Latin, as Google ain't my friend........

 

Or maybe I was snookered.......

 

You caught me Green. I made it all up from the label on a package of Italian Ex-Lax my aunt has.

 

I sincerely hope it wasn't something edible......

 

Care to explain more in-depth?

 

Don't go there.........

 

A buffing wheel?