Removing Toning From Proof Coins

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I would leave the coin alone. You have to remember, this bronze proof coin is 63 years old. It will invariably not keep a pristine appearance.

 

Thanks, I am not going to get this coin. Some toned coins are beautiful, but for this one, I would rather get one without toning. I appreciate all of the helpful info!

BTW, I like your avatar @onecenter .

 

Do NOT dip copper, nickel, or zinc coins in eZest or anything as harsh as nail-polish remover. If you don't like the coin getting worse in toning, would you consider vacuum-sealing to protect the metal from further toning ?

 

Sounds like a good idea. I have done the same on a few coins and sets I have purchased, as well. I recently purchased a much better proof set of Cayman Islands coins that was a dramatic improvement over what I had, and the cost was the same.

 

Don't think I would call nail-polish remover "harsh", it is objectionable if it contains any other additives other than ethyl acetate or acetone, but it isn't harsh.

 

Depends how hard you have to rub to get the nail polish off, I suppose.

 

That's harsh...

 

how hard do you have to rub, Kurt?

 

From the backs of the quarters in the jukebox? Pretty hard.

 

There is an entire thread on CU or here about turning Proof Indians Blue with chemicals. Acetone was one of them. On occasion, when conserving a brown or red-brown copper coin I have turned it blue and then turned it back to brown.

The discussion is whether the chemicals change the color or if something on the coin's surface reacts with the chemicals to change the color. Additionally, is changing the color of a coin with chemicals considered "coin doctoring?"

 

As far as the reaction of metal surfaces with ANY chemicals, even with the chemical knowledge I have, I would defer to the people who have observed these things because we don't know what other factors might enter in.

 

I once got somebody's "castoff" vinyl album that had proof cents in it, and the pages were putting out gases so fast you could almost hear a hiss. The proof cents were starting to acquire PVC coatings, but mostly it was semi-hazy rainbow colored gunk on the coins. I treated them ALL with acetone (because it was PVC residue - I almost never use acetone for anything else), and I got a virtual rainbow of iffy tones to the cents (solid on each one, but each coin different). I still have them somewhere in capsules. The translucent gunk is gone, though.

My suspicion is that the trace amounts of the other metals in the alloy is responsible for this. Just a hypothesis.

 

We shall call these ... "Smurf Cents". Who says Bellman can't market stuff, huh? Bellman now also refers to himself in the third person, like Bob Dole.

 

And the coloration had nothing to do with the acetone, but with the chemicals released by the degrading PVC...now, how would you remove the toning???

 

Stay tuned, Bat-fans, for later. Same Bat-time. Same Bat-channel. Seriously, they're being saved for when I get to monkeying with them again. The most common color is "a little too yellowish to look right". One went greenish.

 

Years ago there were a lot of threads on CU about this topic. The members displayed how the color could be changed back and forth.
I brought up acetone because that's the only thing, I would try with copper. There are those that do some amazing things with copper but I only know enough to get in trouble.

 

Will do Caped Crusaider

 

Many more allegations made about acetone and copper than about xylene.