Today at my LCS I found a quite valuable coin, 1864 New Brunswick 5 cents, that unfortunately seems to have been made into jewelry in the past. This coin sells for several hundred dollars so if there's a way to improve it, it's definitely in my best interests. Is there any way to remove this attachment with minimal damage to the coin? I understand there is probably some damage but I think it would be more collectible without the attachment unless if left a hole or divot or something. Do you think it is soldered on? I looked up removing solder and sites mention heating it up with a soldering iron and scraping it off, but they're also talking about circuit boards, not coins. This is outside of my area of knowledge so I'm hoping for some guidance. Here's some pictures.
Unfortunately it’s permanently damaged. Even with the piece removed and thaw affected area cared for as best as possible, Queen Victoria has a number of scratches.
Yeah I can see scratches and I know it's not going to be AU or anything. I just want to get it as good as possible.
Ok here is what you do. Depending on what solder was used will definitely hinder your success. If someone used a silver solder that melts at a higher temperature closer to the temperature of the coin. You can suspend the coin from the attachment and add weight to the coin itself. Heat the attachment until the solder becomes liquid again...at which point the coin will separate from the attachment. There are a couple tools that will melt solder. Soldering iron or torch. desoldering braid; it's a braided copper mesh that absorbs molten solder when placed against a heated solder joint, essentially acting as a "wick" to draw the solder away from the component without the need for a separate desoldering tool like a solder sucker used In electronics. On this coin if you know a jeweler that repairs silver items they could give it a shot. I had this same delima with a gold piece. I ultimately didn't buy it for 2 times spot but probably should have. It was a really rare piece that someone added a loop to the top. This gold coin has a reeded edge and it would have been a challenge to restore it to the best condition. Ultimately getting it graded or authenticated it would come back as ExJewlery. IF I had more disposable income I would have found a way to justify the gold coin.
@rte has had the best suggestions. I wish I had known about the tools he mentions when I was a bench jeweler. I would turn away any jewelry repairs that had been soldered with low temperature solders. When reheated, lead solders could actually be corrosive and eat up the surface where the object is being removed from the coin. I have no doubt that a really good conservator who does museum quality work could clean up your coin.
