Coin Conservation Demonstration

Hey guys.

This is a process which I use on a semi regular basis for coins in an advanced state of PVC contamination such as the piece shown.

Here is the before shot of the coin being conserved. Note the heavy PVC issues.



THE PROCESS.

Using a q tip I gently applied Coin Care to the surface of the coin. These oils tend to break the PVC up and remove it from the surface. This can be applied and removed several times till the PVC is removed. I then give the coins a quick acetone rinse to get any of the harder to get PVC and remove the oil. Then a wash and pat dry.



The final result.

 

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Nice job, the coin definitely looks better.

Is there a way you can do this without the Q-tip? I have heard lots of folks say that using even a q-tip can leave hairlines. I guess if the trade-off is PVC gunk vs. hairlines, I would prefer the latter, but can the coin just soak in the cleaner and acetone?

 

Acetone sometimes won't take off the really thick stuff like this here. I have done several thousand coins like this over the years... Many many have been certified and not one has been rejected for any hairlines... just be EASY...

 

What is this "easy" thing you speak of?

Here's a direct quote from my father: "There are few problems in life that a hammer cannot solve..."

I will give this "easy" thing a try...

 

Matt - which product did you use? I have a couple of coins that may be decent candidates from this. Is it called Coin Care?

 

Yes that is correct.

 

Coin Care is nothing more than mineral oil and an odorant. Save yourself the money and just buy a bottle of white oil (often called "baby oil"). It will perform identically.

 

I asked because I wasn't sure if that was just a generic term he used or the actual product. Essentially I am just looking for a product like yours but is easily available in Canada. I really should just bite the bullet and pay the shipping but I always end up buying more coins instead!

 

Cool demo. How would the TPG's view this coin now?

 

So, mineral oil...hmmm

 

We picked up about 400 pieces like this one... we spent most of the day processing them and they are going into an NGC bulk submission early next week. I'll let you know when they come back how NGC viewed them.

 

On a surface like this, would the scratching of a q-tip be visible?

 

I was thinking the same thing... on a Penny maybe not, but if you followed the same process on say a Morgan Silver Dollar, there would be more risk... i think?

 

No. At least I don't detect any in hand.

 

But on a Morgan, if it were a VF or so coin, there are already lots of scratches.

 

Here are more examples of these coins that went through the same process today. I personally did about 150 pieces... it's exhausting... but worth it. All of these coins had the same kind of PVC... some not as bad as the coin at the beginning... some slightly worse... Overall I'm happy with the result.

 

True, but in the eyes of NGC, there is natural wear and then there is Improperly Cleaned. LostDutchman is submitting all of these for grading that's why I brought up the point about scratches during the conservation process. NGC may see it and presume the coin was cleaned and therefore not grade it.

 

Yep, but there is "natural wear and then there is Improperly Cleaned" and there is also Conserved or Properly Cleaned. I could tell on proof coins and perhaps on most MS 60+ coins, but AU and less...I'm just not sure. I made a statement once and will still kind of stand by it...you know a coin is cleaned (Proper or Improper) if you cleaned it. Just wondering about those silvers that already got their honestly earned scratches.

 

A hint for using Q-tips: roll it across the surface. Don't drag it across the surface or dab at it. In either of the latter cases, just sliding the Q-tip can cause tiny scratches. With enough practice, the rolling method can even be used on proofs. Take special note of the the phrase "with enough practice".