Help With Spot On Copper Medal?

I have a Grover Cleveland Medal, looks like copper and it has a huge ugly blackness on it! Is this bronze disease and how do I remove it? Anyone know?

 

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Looks Copper to me but there are bronze ones similar to this one, check out this link > https://www.bing.com/search?q=grove...s=n&sk=&cvid=8414a28690994a45a72d9b16d72adc29

 

Are these rare ??

 

I don't think thats Bronze Disease. But definitely a issue created by another object. Must of had a metal ring attached to it that reacted in a bad way then removed?

Don't clean it yourself. Send it for preservation.

 

I was gonna recommend something but it's to rare, I go with paddyman98's decision . See a Jeweler's or antique dealer probably the best thing to do.

 

Also I'm thinking cheap bezel did this .

 

I'll guess the medal was once hung on a ribbon or a string and that caused the damage. Looks pretty bad. I don't think it will all come off. Probably need to come up with a value first to see if it's worth the cost to send it into one of the pros.
This guy may be able to help. @johnmilton

 

I was gonna say Ink too, ahh the worst . It's probably gonna look cleaned if it's worked on, no ? Ok calm down. maybe not. Them guys can do amazing things .right ??

 

love the detail in that building.

Icky black stuff not good. A pro needs to clean that so that the copper color doesn't get pink-ized from a bad cleaning.

 

I wonder if whoever drilled that hole used cutting oil for a nice smooth hole? That would surely leave a coating or stain.

 

doesn't look that smooth since it appears they pushed out the rim and a bunch of material piled up.
but oil makes sense here too

 

I didn’t look that close. Not drilled. Punched like Clawcoins said.

 

It appears that the cutting fluid used to keep the drill bit from overheating caused the damage. However, the slight bulge at the rim near the hole indicates the hole was likely punched. Probably was drilled first, then expanded with a punch.
This ‘etching’ seems to have permanently damaged the surface, however a TPG conservation specialist (NGC, ANACS, etc.) should be able to confirm that.
As others have commented, you may want to determine the potential value before investing in any conservation services.
Should you decide to attempt to conserve this item, please post follow-up data - and pictures, too!
Good luck in your venture.

 

If this was done a long long time ago, it would of been done with a hand cranking drill , no . Punched first hard then drilled rest of way with oil of course . lol

 

oh I know these guys did it :

 

Yes, this is a rare George B. Soley Medal but I have another, see pics! I think I'll try baking soda first as I read around and the recommendation was some kind of soda but I can't find the link and I forget the name of it. I'll work on it later tonight!

 

Looks like a renovation job. The first one needs help too. Once done they will shine ! The thing is, are they worth less "cleaned". Yep there's that word again. lol

 

the hole should be original every example I've seen of this has a hole, and in the same place, some more stretched out than others though, but they all have them.

ink or dye from the ribbon possibly it's basically and early campaign button.

 

.

 

Yes, you're right! I found the name of the recommended powder that treats bronze disease, it's called Sodium Sesquicarbonate. Since I don't have any, I'll be using baking soda with distilled water, I'm sure to get some results, but we'll see.