Does anyone know how to remove this substance from a coin without damaging the coin?

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by brinssig, Oct 4, 2021.

  1. brinssig

    brinssig Active Member

    I have a coin that I think has tar on the front. I tried using acetone directly where the substance is on the coin but the substance would not come off. Does anyone know of a way to remove substance from the coin without dipping or damaging the coin? I hate to treat the whole coin since there appears to be a film on the coin that has developed over time. The coin in the picture looks cleaned but it actually has a film on it.

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    upload_2021-10-4_16-29-34.png
     
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  3. green18

    green18 Unknown member Sweet on Commemorative Coins

    Give it a soak in some pure acetone. Won't harm the coin a bit.
     
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  4. SensibleSal66

    SensibleSal66 U.S Casual Collector / Error Collector

    I have 3 methods ...
    1) Soak in Acetone 100 %
    2) Soak in Palmolive .
    3) E-Z est
    5146nhRgX2L._AC_SX355_.jpg
     
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  5. expat

    expat Remember you are unique, just like everyone else Supporter

    Soak overnight in distilled water to maybe soften it a little. Then let it rest in 100% acetone for a few hours and then rinse again with distilled water. The acetone will not harm your coin or remove the toning. Do not wipe it in any way, if it is going to fall off after the soaking, it will. If it removes some, then repeat
     
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  6. Insider

    Insider Talent on loan from...

    IMO, none of the above will work except perhaps the dip. Usually black marks as this are into the coin and even dip will not help a bunch.

    In all honesty, if it were mine, it is only worth melt value, take the money and by an original coin. I can get a beauty in Tampa for your coin plus $30-$40 cash. I'll bet others here can do the same.
     
  7. Kentucky

    Kentucky Well-Known Member

    NO, DON"T USE EZEST unless you know what you are doing
     
  8. SensibleSal66

    SensibleSal66 U.S Casual Collector / Error Collector

    Okay. No EZEST . Thanks @Kentucky . I didn't know that's why I listed it last.
     
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  9. brinssig

    brinssig Active Member

    I know the acetone won't directly harm the coin. The problem is the coin already has a patina on it that it has probably developed over years or decades and I hate to take it off and expose the scratches on the surface of the coin. I'm also afraid the coin might start to tarnish if I expose it to a lot of water or I remove the film over the entire coin.
     
  10. brinssig

    brinssig Active Member

    Palmolive? Are you talking about dishwashing liquid soap? That would harm the coin.
     
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  11. SensibleSal66

    SensibleSal66 U.S Casual Collector / Error Collector

    Not my Silver . :happy:
     
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  12. Michael K

    Michael K Well-Known Member

    Just the acetone should remove it with no damage.
    Anything else can damage it. (Not including distilled water.)
     
  13. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    That look more like the remnants of a magic marker to me.
     
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  14. MIGuy

    MIGuy Well-Known Member

    I just use my imagination. ;) Because I don't think anything's going to actually get that off without making the coin worse as you've already tried acetone.
     
  15. Insider

    Insider Talent on loan from...

    Why not soak the coin in acetone for a year so folks will better understand what it does not work on. Besides, it could be black ink (I doubt it) and it will come right off.
     
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  16. expat

    expat Remember you are unique, just like everyone else Supporter

    Speculating about what caused the dark appearance is secondary if you really don't know what it is. Most people here know the limitations of acetone and what it works on, but it is a substance that will do no harm if tried, so nothing to lose but possibly something to gain.
     
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  17. potty dollar 1878

    potty dollar 1878 Well-Known Member

    Its a extremely common date so-so condition coin.As @Insider is saying,if it were me let it be.
     
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2021
  18. brinssig

    brinssig Active Member

    The date itself in the condition it is in is common. What is not common is the die break on the back of the coin which is located next to one of the eagle's wings on the back. The coin is hard to find with a die break this big which is why I'm going to the trouble of trying to figure out a way to safely remove the spots without affecting the rest of the coin. This particular die is listed as VAM 3B on VAMWorld.
     
  19. Kentucky

    Kentucky Well-Known Member

    Xylene sometimes is better than acetone.
    Couple of things, most people wouldn't have it, and if someone ordered it, there are too many ways to screw up your coin. eZest is best for removing nasty toning.
     
  20. Kentucky

    Kentucky Well-Known Member

    Acetone will not remove patina or toning.
     
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  21. brinssig

    brinssig Active Member

    Maybe "patina" was the wrong word to use. What I think I meant to say is the acetone will remove the film from the coin and change its appearance. If the coin has any scratches on it they will become more visible if the film from the coin is removed. I'm also afraid the coin will not have a natural appearance if I treat the whole coin with acetone and the coin will look like a cleaned coin.
     
    Insider likes this.
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