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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Brett_in_Sacto, post: 2204953, member: 71510&quot;]I have *not* tried this - ever, so don&#039;t quote me as doing it - or even having any sort of confidence in it.&nbsp; Merely an idea - and probably one to experiment with before using it on a coin you think has potential high value.</p><p><br /></p><p>The acid in the &quot;gold and silver&quot; test kits is designed to eat away anything that isn&#039;t silver.&nbsp; I believe it&#039;s nitric acid, I never bothered to look up the chemical makeup.</p><p><br /></p><p>I would think that a drop of it on top of the mint mark may eat away at the non-silver metals underneath - and if enough of the foundation of the mint mark exists, it may allow the other metal to melt away around it.&nbsp; And I would think that the silver would be eaten at a slower rate along with any soft metal that had been pushed around it.</p><p><br /></p><p>Otherwise the nitric acid (nic-a-date) would probably also work - although I would think much faster than it does on a nickel because of the metal hardness.&nbsp; I&#039;m not a chemist, only someone that likes to experiment.</p><p><br /></p><p>I would encourage qualified chemists (and brave alchemists) to join in the discussion at this point - because my idea is purely theoretical.</p><p><br /></p><p>In a similar proverb of panning for gold - you simply pick up the pile of gold, and get rid of everything that isn&#039;t.</p><p><br /></p><p>I would recommend experimenting on a common date coin though.&nbsp; This would help you figure out concentration of acid and duration of reaction.&nbsp; It would be awful to see a &quot;D&quot; appear - and then disappear.</p><p><br /></p><p>I would test doing it in small increments.&nbsp; Acid for a few seconds, then wash in distilled water.&nbsp; Next extend a few seconds, etc...&nbsp; It may take some time.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>And please remember - safety first![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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