Probable lacquered coin.

Bought this coin with a very bad photo for like $50 or so. Soaked a ton of hours in xylene/paint thinner/MEK (NOT all mixed together of course). Any opinions? Didn't want to soak anymore. Put in album for a long time and the bluish look on the rims started to go into the obverse filed on Abe's portrait so I pulled out and put in Intercept holder.

Was also trying to tone obv scratches to the right of Abe's portrait.

 

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acetone ?

 

Maybe it is just your lighting, but it looks to me like there is still a fair amount of your lacquer left on the coin. Aside from that, it is a nice looking coin. I cannot tell if it is RD or RB, but it is 64ish to me.

 

Lacquer probably still there but after like over 3 weeks straight of soaking in all the above chemicals, and yes acetone I gave up. I won't try anymore. Too stressful to me. I do think it's a cool coin regardless with pretty nice toning.

 

I would agree , It's very nice and the lacquer is not that distracting.

 

Yes, I am. Guilty as charged. I have spoken with people who have been using oils a long, long time withou ill effect. I know the chemist may have proved that sulfur can react with coins as it is free and not bound. This is also on the assumption that oils have a significant enough amount of sulfur in them to react- we won't know easily, but I doubt it. I think this is theoretical and does so extremely slowly if it happens at all. Jim and Thad who argued that, I don't think ever oil their coins so they don't know by personal experience. In fact, I know they haven't they stated so. I have spoke with many people (some of significant status) who have oiled coins many, many years without ill effect. In fact, Q David Bowers suggest such as a good conservation method. I know eddiespin showed those coins after 15 years with oil, but he said he washed off with warm soapy water. This will cause a reaction as water and oil don't mix, and the oil will coagulate and trap water within it. You don't remove oil with water. That's what I believe cause his coins to look like that. I like Coin Care and mineral oil the most. Lately using Coin Care.
I knew a little "oil provocation" would pull you out of the woodworks.
:hug::hug:
Boss:hail:

 

Whatever it is The shine nearly made me go blind.especially the forth pic down.
JC

 

So maybe this is a stupid question....cause I'm a newb.....but, uh, if it's lacquered, wouldn't *lacquer thinner" be the thing to use to remove it?

 

Not a stupid question at all.:smile

 

Lacquer thinner may be used to thin some lacquers, but it will no more dissolve most (all?) lacquers than water will dissolve all water based paints. Just think what would happen if water would dissolve your water based paint you painted you house with. And then the rains came.....

 

Thanks RLM- I believe you worked in this Industry so I'll take your word on this. I do not like removing lacquer as it has been a frustrating and disappointing experience. Up to 2-3 weeks of soaking to reveal big scratches and messed up coins. I will sell with disclaimers or keep.

 

BB Duplicate.

 

One of the challenges that you don't see mentioned with oil is that once you start you can't stop otherwise the coin will likely tone in a blotchy and/or unpredictable way -- then it's dip, strip, recolor, and oil again.

 

I know people argue that point, Mike, but others argue that oils protect. Your point is conjecture to me- I mean that in no rude or offensive way. I know people that have oiled coins a LONG time and would argue their coins have been fine and better off. All coins have a patina which is really a mixture of oil/dirt, sulfur/ air borne contaminates. A mint state coin from an old Gov roll or from a mint set would only have the oils from the mint press and otherwise would simply have, airbourne sulfur like contaminates. I am not convinced of the point you make, but you are certainly more experienced.

 

Don't believe me? Think it is conjecture? That's fine. Ask those same people what happens if you stop oiling a coin, and please post what they say.

I'm not saying that oiling a coin doesn't protect it -- to the contrary it does -- but I am saying that once you start, you can't stop, or the oil will evaporate/migrate from the surface and the coin will likely begin toning in a splotchy way because the application of oil (typically with brushing) removes the protective oils that were on the coin to begin with and the applied oil doesn't disappear all at once (thus the splotchiness).

Hope this makes it more clear...Mike

 

Well, Mike/Doug- you may be right. I really don't know. Arguements about Lucite cubes- well they definietly protect coins but make the coins useless so why did anyone do that? Lacquer as we know is very hard to remove. Oil can always be removed with acetone or xylene. Evaporation issues. Most people say reapply oils every 10 years or so. I have had coins over 3 years with no problem. As far as removing the old oils that copper naturally collects- well that is oils and dust mixed with dirt contaminates from the air=patina right? How can fresh clean oil be bad, when natural airbourne contaminate oil be good? Makes no sense to me. Just MHO's

 

It's not that one is "good" and the other is "bad". Both have their advantages. However, with natural oil/patina that a coin gains through circulation doesn't tend to migrate off the coin like liquid oils commonly used today.

For instance, I have a 1798 large cent I've posted to this forum many times that has never been oiled in its life, and guess what? It's perfectly stable. Now if I were to brush it and add oil to that coin (which would remove the existing oils) and then stop oiling it, and you now have a fresh, reactive surface that will not look real good in 10 or 15 years.

Again, please don't take my word for it, ask your copper contacts and report back what you find....Mike

 

If I were to Acetone a coin, or any other solvent type " stripper " I myself would most definatly use Blue Ribbon, but I have the old " 1-1-1 TriClhor " Blue Ribbon here.

The new stuff is not as " good ". The old formula trades around $30-$50 a bottle, and is dissapearing quickly. You will find most pro's and copper experts have it and use it on occasion on an as needed basis.

I think your coin looks fine, but not mint state. It also looks tampered with. It also looks like a nice coin.