MS 70 turned my 1955 Yugoslavia coin insane

hi all

As many of you know I am new to this, and inherited a box of silver and world coins. I have already separated the good from bad, etc. but had a handful of valueless coins I liked the designs of. Many were coated with grime. I know the whole “don’t scrub” coins but I read about how safe MS 70 was to clean coins, and since I just wanted literally cleaner coins I figured “let’s try!” Well, check out the psychodelic Yugoslavian coin I have now. It even ate through the top layer of of the coin a bit. Damn. What is this stuff??

 

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Meaningless thread without the "before" picture.

 

Let me guess -- the coin is made of zinc or aluminum?

MS70 contains a strong base (potassium hydroxide). I'd expect it to gobble those metals with vigor.

 

Technically not a before but here is the other coin I have from this year / country and they looked the same

 

I don't believe it is harmless. Perhaps a diluted solution or shorter soak would have been better.

 

Yes bronze and aluminum

 

Looks like this coin, with composition listed as "aluminium-bronze". I'm sorry for your loss.

 

So is it safe to say that stuff is only safe on silver?

 

Sorry that happened to you, but it’s further evidence for me to stay away from trying to clean coins.

 

I'd say it was inexpensive tuition and now hopefully the OP will learn for the future. Sometimes it's best to experiment for oneself with cheaper coins so there is no temptation to harm better ones.

 

First, you're not using it as directed. Read the label. It specifies how to apply it and what metals it is appropriate for. It's not to be used as a dip. Second, MS70 is for use on uncirculated coins and nearly uncirculated AU58 possibly 55 depending on the coin is ok. It brightens (primarily silver) uncirculated coins and makes them look a little nicer. It's not a coin cleaner.

 

It was an inexpensive lesson. An essentially valueless coin and 10$ for the bottle of MS70 (with free ship).

So what do people use this for if it’s this destructive ???

 

As far as I know, it's safe on silver. If you have a copper-nickel coin you don't mind sacrificing for the greater good, I'd be interested to know how it reacts, if at all, to MS-70.

 

MS-70 is well known to turn copper coins blue. There have been quite a few coin doctors who took advantage of this, carefully applying small amounts of MS-70 to high UNC copper coins. Many collectors like the look of those coins, but TPGs have learned to call them Questionable Color.

In your case, the psychedelic effect is very off-putting.

But I have to ask, why were you trying to harshly treat that attractive looking circulated coin? I see a bit of green on it, which would be effectively and safely treated with acetone.

 

No loss here. Some might pay a nice premium for that colored coin. It may actually have increased in value. Just buy an UNC one instead and never clean again.

 

This is a multi point response to WHY:

1) Curiosity. I have a bunch of coins that have little to no value that just have a bit of gunk on them, whether PVC green or stuff caked in the rim. I figured a spot cleaning solution would be great for that.

2) It says its safe and acid free. I thought that meant safe. the label is a bit misleading. Oddly there is not a ton of info about this product online that I could find. TONS of stuff on EZest, not much on this.

3) Price. Ran out of acetone and this was the same price and again, I felt like being able to spot clean vs submerge was better.

4) For THIS coin, I have 2 in equal condition (technically the one I MS70'd was in worse shape a bit) The other is soaking in the last of my acetone!

5) Time!!!! Acetone seems to take hours, this said SECONDS. Seemed like a solid time save

6) Lack of general experience in coin collecting. I just started out and I love experimentation, so I figured why not? Again it totes itself as safe for all these metals.

So basically it was a combo of curiosity, experimentation and a bit of naive outlook on trying to get some gunk off of these coins!

 

Ever watch Fight Club? They permanently scar their hands with caustic lye, which is also acid free. MS70 is similarly a strong base.

 

For what its worth, the image might not relay this but I DO have a very gentle hand when it comes to cleaning / restoration. I also have a large appreciation for original patina - Parents were lifelong antique collectors (and for a time dealers) who specialized in 17th-19th century english furniture (hence the pile of english coins in this box I found) and personally I run a website dedicated to the careful restoration and conservation of 80s toy lines.

Hence my desire to try and find a way to just make some of these pocket change type coins prettier without scrubbing, etc. This Yugo coin was a solid mistake. However with my close proximity to Haight / Ashbury in San Francisco, I think I may just drop it on the ground there and blow some high hippies mind when he finds it!