As you may know, I'm a "darkside" collector. In the past few months, I've gone even further, and have started collecting ancient tokens. Many of these were struck in lead, a metal that is remarkably fickle. I just today received a lot of five lead tokens/seal impressions. Time has not treated them kindly. They're already taken on the dusty white look of rotting lead. Can anyone think of any way I can preserve these pieces? Any ideas for protecting the other lead tokens I own from meeting such a fate?
Try this page http://www.dt.navy.mil/cnsm/lead_08.html Since these probably won't be submitted to TPGs, the physical removal won't be too noticeable. The key after that is to keep it from reoccurring from acetic acid exposure. I would suspect a museum wax or even something "oily" like coincare would help prevent that. I have about 60lbs of lead came for stain glass from years ago hobby, and I have always stored inside garage and watched it as lead products are bad stuff. When I started ceramics later, lead containing glazes were still available....now there is some bad stuff when baking in a kiln. Jim
Hmm. Sounds like decent advice with the vinegar bath. But I'm afraid electroplating is out of the question. There's precious little detail left on these as it is, no need to obscure it more.
If I understand the chemistry of it, if one used acetic acid bath, it should be rinsed very well as acetic acid is what originally initated the problem. It would be interesting to see them if you have a photo. Jim
The ones that aren't turning are in my gallery, here: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=2267 These are the sick ones
Lead is very reactive. Any acid will remove the carbonate, however, you will likely lose detail on the coin. When I've worked on copper that bad, the details came off with the verdigris. I would try soaking them in some mineral oil for a bit, then see how they look with oil covering the surface. If it's OK, put them in airtite (oiled) and the corrosion should stop.
see if you an find some lead to experiment with. maybe if your gentle with r-wax but you do have to buff it but yeah i think u can find oil speificaly for that, I think i saw some at amazon even. maybe...... wd40 C_c
please take care of your health, that white stuff is a deadly poison, don't lick your fingers after handling the lead. a light oil sounds like a reasonable idea, but if you can "google" the "U.K.D.N." (a uk detecting site) and ask on there as there are many lead objects dug up from antiquiry that need preservation, i feel sure they will tell you. i will try to ask the next time i log on to them. remember that "white stuff" is poison. mike.
Thanks for the advice. If you could make the post at UKDN, I would appreciate it, not being a member myself. That white stuff just doesn't look healthy, even to a layman. The only time I've touched these, I held them in the palm of my hand and soon slipped them back into the envelope. I've been considering getting cotton gloves, not to protect the coins, but to protect myself!
beachcombermike Post subject: cleaning lead Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 10:57 pm Registered User Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2007 11:05 am Posts: 191 Location: sydney australia Main Detector: shadow x5 Report this post Edit post Reply with quote could anyone help me please, i believe the "white stuff" on old lead is poisonous, is there any way to clean it off and still keep the writing etc. in a readable condition, i ask for a member of an american coin group member who has got some lead "tokens" or something like that and wishes to see what is on them, any help would be appreciated. mike. Deetektor Post subject: Re: cleaning lead Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 11:43 pm UKDN Supporter - Silver Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2004 11:44 am Posts: 2173 Location: S.E. England...... Amateur Callsign G0TTM Report this post Reply with quote If they have any value, cleaning will decrease that value. Brushing in soapy water with a soft nail brush may do it, although I would be wary of cleaning at all. _________________ Support the PAS You know it makes sense Garrett 250 Laser Hawkeye XP Goldmaxx Power Donnydave Post subject: Re: cleaning lead Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 12:06 am UKDN Valued Member and UKDN Newsletter Contributer Joined: Sun Jan 14, 2007 8:32 pm Posts: 4728 Location: Doncaster Main Detector: Technetics T2 Report this post Reply with quote Just don,t suck on them _________________ My Finds on UKDFD: Click Here http://yeli.us/Flash/Fire.html lancastrian Post subject: Re: cleaning lead Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 2:51 am Registered User Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2008 5:01 pm Posts: 53 Location: lancashire Main Detector: xp gmp , tejon pro Report this post Reply with quote after wash i used naturnal shoe polish rub on lead to stop white powder look good
