I just purchased a 1914 D Lincoln at a VERY good price, but, it has a couple of green spots on the date. I have never cleaned my coin's, but, I want to make sure I stop the corrosion and perhaps (if possible without damage) remove a little green. Thoughts? Suggestions?
Photos? BTW, does your coin have the designer's initials - VDB - on the truncation of Lincoln's bust?
If you are not sure how to go about it then try professional help. http://www.ncscoin.com/conservation/index.asp
no, it doesnt. It is real, just discounted because of the nice green spot's, and I worked em into a good deal because of another purchase
See this thread - http://www.cointalk.com/forum/t47318/ on Verdigone. I think it will work in this case - but I have no actual experience with it.
I suspect you are seeing the remains of an old "vinegar" treatment of some sort, leaving copper acetate deposits. I have not seen that type of corrosion on a coin not chemically treated. I think Verdigone would be the best bet by far, IMO, but I would personally rinse it in acetone properly ( put into a glass container for a few minutes with pure acetone, take out the coin and hold vertically and pore fresh acetone across surfaces into the glass container, allow coin to dry and put into a mylar or hard plastic holder) until you decide what to do. From the photo, the question is whether the darker spots around the blue represents damage or "carbon spotting" which verdigone can't help. You won't know until it is treated. There will also probably be disruption of the "wood grain" effect, but I don't think these would affect the coins value any more than it is, and it would look better in my opinion. This is in my opinion and as such is the best I can offer, but may be wrong. Your mileage may vary. Jim
Thanks all for your input. I have ordered some Verdigone and am going to see how it does. I will post a pic after treatment.
Please read the instructions carefully. Find at least a dozen or so coins with greenish crust on them for practice before doing the 14-D. If you don't have any, almost any coin store, or Lincoln collector probably can supply you. Take before, during, after photos for us. Never seen the blue crud like that before. Jim
Your about to play with a coin with a little over 1 million minted. And now your purchasing solutions your not aware of how they will work. I would suggest with that coin to just dip it in distilled water, blow dry, place in a 2x2, seal the ends with tape and forget those little irritating smudges. Of course if you already have numersou 1914D's, it would make little difference I guess.
ok... I was going to take a new pic, but, but camera is acting up. Thinking about the various comments regarding the odd color of the green gunk I decided to try a VERY soft brush to see if any of this gunk would come off. Low and behold, it all wiped off easily As to those concerned about be chancing such an expensive coin - I have several hundred, if not well over a thousand, problem wheats that I planned on experimenting on first. While I am a little crazy I would never chance such a desiarble coin on a first attempt at cleaning. In the case of this 14 D it seems a moot point. However, I am still gonna play with some of my problem wheats to see how well Verigone works for me, and what it's limits are.
My two cents: I would give it a quick dip in acetone, and tackle that baby with a softened toothpick. I have yet to scratch a coin with a sharpened, but softened toothpick. It would get right in the nooks and crannies, would leave any marks, or hairlines like a toothbrush is possible of achieving. I guess I should throw a disclaimer out there like everyone else though.... DONT try anything on this coin until you have experimented on a million other cheap wheats...
If you are thinking about experimenting on cents, you should talk to Boss or read some of his threads as he seems to be the resident crazy experimenter with coin cleaning. He could probably give you a few good tips/tell you what he has already tried without success.
