Log in or Sign up
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
Coin Chat
>
cleaning varnish off an old copper coin
>
Reply to Thread
Message:
<p>[QUOTE="GDJMSP, post: 7893535, member: 112"]When talking about coins the word dip or dipping has a very specific and limited meaning, it refers to using a commercial coin dip, all of which contain an acid. </p><p><br /></p><p>When talking about using distilled water, acetone, or xylene, rinsing would be the proper term to use.</p><p><br /></p><p>As for your basic question, will acetone or xylene remove varnish from a coin ? Yes, they will. But since there are several different kinds of varnish with each being made of different things, some can be removed with acetone while others will require using xylene to remove them. And no, there's no way to determine which to use except by trial and error. First use one and if that works fine, but if it doesn't then use the other.</p><p><br /></p><p>But as desertgem said, there's no guarantee that what's on the coin is varnish at all, it could easily be almost anything else. So acetone or xylene may or may not remove it if it is something else.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Yes, what you're describing could very easily happen. The reason it could happen is because the varnish (or coating) would have been stopping toning from occurring in the covered areas. But all the while allowing toning to occur in the uncovered areas. And since neither acetone nor xylene will remove toning, once the the varnish or coating is removed it will reveal untoned metal that will be a different color than the metal that is toned because it was not covered. And that will result in pretty much the look you're describing - the coin will look to be spotted with different colors. </p><p><br /></p><p>Many decades ago varnish and lacquer were used by many collectors in an effort to protect, primarily copper coins because copper is so reactive and tones so easily but some also used it on other coins as well, coins from toning. They thought it was a great idea at first and it seemed to work. But they failed to take the long term effects into account. With time, the varnish changed colors and became ugly, and some would flake off here and there. Or, any contact with other surfaces could and would wear the varnish off, again making it look ugly. And so eventually they learned from their mistake and stopped using the process. But every now and then coins with varnish and or lacquer on them still show up, and questions just like yours are asked.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="GDJMSP, post: 7893535, member: 112"]When talking about coins the word dip or dipping has a very specific and limited meaning, it refers to using a commercial coin dip, all of which contain an acid. When talking about using distilled water, acetone, or xylene, rinsing would be the proper term to use. As for your basic question, will acetone or xylene remove varnish from a coin ? Yes, they will. But since there are several different kinds of varnish with each being made of different things, some can be removed with acetone while others will require using xylene to remove them. And no, there's no way to determine which to use except by trial and error. First use one and if that works fine, but if it doesn't then use the other. But as desertgem said, there's no guarantee that what's on the coin is varnish at all, it could easily be almost anything else. So acetone or xylene may or may not remove it if it is something else. Yes, what you're describing could very easily happen. The reason it could happen is because the varnish (or coating) would have been stopping toning from occurring in the covered areas. But all the while allowing toning to occur in the uncovered areas. And since neither acetone nor xylene will remove toning, once the the varnish or coating is removed it will reveal untoned metal that will be a different color than the metal that is toned because it was not covered. And that will result in pretty much the look you're describing - the coin will look to be spotted with different colors. Many decades ago varnish and lacquer were used by many collectors in an effort to protect, primarily copper coins because copper is so reactive and tones so easily but some also used it on other coins as well, coins from toning. They thought it was a great idea at first and it seemed to work. But they failed to take the long term effects into account. With time, the varnish changed colors and became ugly, and some would flake off here and there. Or, any contact with other surfaces could and would wear the varnish off, again making it look ugly. And so eventually they learned from their mistake and stopped using the process. But every now and then coins with varnish and or lacquer on them still show up, and questions just like yours are asked.[/QUOTE]
Your name or email address:
Do you already have an account?
No, create an account now.
Yes, my password is:
Forgot your password?
Stay logged in
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
Coin Chat
>
cleaning varnish off an old copper coin
>
Home
Home
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Activity
Recent Posts
Forums
Forums
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Posts
Competitions
Competitions
Quick Links
Competition Index
Rules, Terms & Conditions
Gallery
Gallery
Quick Links
Search Media
New Media
Showcase
Showcase
Quick Links
Search Items
Most Active Members
New Items
Directory
Directory
Quick Links
Directory Home
New Listings
Members
Members
Quick Links
Notable Members
Current Visitors
Recent Activity
New Profile Posts
Sponsors
Menu
Search
Search titles only
Posted by Member:
Separate names with a comma.
Newer Than:
Search this thread only
Search this forum only
Display results as threads
Useful Searches
Recent Posts
More...