Does MS70 harm coins?

Just got a bottle of 70 for Christmas! Glad to hear it gets rid of cloudiness on those gorgeous 40% Ike dollars!

 

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I had a 1970-D Mint set still in the mint cello. All the coins were dull and hazy. I took the quarter out and applied MS70 to both sides with a Q-tip. The haze almost instantly disappeared as soon as the MS70 touched it.

I would never use it on copper however. Copper seems to be very reactive or at least it has unpredictable results, most of the time with negative color appeal.

Before



After

 

If it is red or red-brown, yes. If it is fully brown and the coin has a very dry lusterless appearance, but is otherwise uncirculated, I would use MS70 on it. It can still give it a slight blue sheen, but I think the result is quite attractive on brown copper, and much better than the prior dry appearance.

 

This is what the Amazon ad says:
MS-70 8 oz. Coin Cleaner (Qty = 1 Bottle)

1. safe to use on gold, silver, nickel, copper, brass and bronze.
2. will not change the color of your coin, but does remove surface contamination, such as tarnish, fog, oil, dirt, and P.V.C.
   
   I have heard that this is not for copper and I thought it said so on the bottle. The bottle claims it is safe to use on copper.
   

 

I have a bottle right now and use it occasionally to add or replace the luster on certain coins works best on uncirculated coins. I have used it on semi dull coins prior to sending them in for grading. NEVER had one come back with the "cleaned" or "details" notation. Trick is to use ONLY as directed Don't rub it in or on then rinse thoroughly with distilled water and allow to air dry.

 

I didn't think it was possible to add luster that wasn't there.

What about for use on copper coins?

 

It's not actually adding, was just a weird way to describe it exposing what was covered up

 

I have a question on the removing P.V.C. residue. I just recently sent a morgan in to be graded and it came back in a body bag. super nice coin and I missed the pvc on the reverse. Tiny little spot. Would MS 70 cause the graders to now grade it but say it was cleaned? Can they tell?

 

I've never used MS70 before but find the comments from senior CT members useful. I have a few non copper coins that could use something like this to remove some haze.

One thing I'll definitely stay away from though, MS 13.

 

You want to use acetone to remove PVC residue. If it's a tiny spot it should grade at that point, unless there are other issues.

 

Thanks! I’ll go the acetone route first. Since this is the MS70 thread, I’ll be sure to try to show some photos of an Ike I have that has some hazing on it.

 

Here's an example of a silver proof that was extremely hazy when I purchased it. I had it pegged as a great candidate for MS70 when I got it. After a couple MS70 applications with a Q-Tip, followed by a distilled water rinse, I submitted it to NGC and it graded PF69 Ultra Cameo.

 

Oh I wasn't trusting what it says on the bottle.

 

I use Q-Tips all the time prior to TPG submission when applying VerdiCare, mineral oil, or MS70, and I've never had a coin I treated not grade well. I have done this successfully with dozens of coins. I understand what you're saying regarding their use, but the concerns can be mitigated with technique and type of swab.

First, you use solid tipped hobby swabs to eliminate fibers coming off on the coin, and the possibility of scratching the surface with the swab stick. Second, you don't rub the tip of the swabs on the coin, ever. Instead you roll it across the surface, so that abrasion does not occur. Plus, these liquids form a thin barrier between the swab and the surface of the coin. You really want to be using it as an applicator rather than touching the surface with it directly. It actually says to do it this way on the bottle, and explicitly not to use it like a dip. It works better with direct application. All the above treatments I use with swabs do.

Is there always some chance if harming the surfaces with any direct surface application, sure, however, you can't overlook the fact that these applications are to treat another condition on the coin that is already a problem that will harm the grade or designation. The same can be said of risks inherent with dips. A pragmatic approach is best. It's not like one would do this arbitrarily on a perfectly fine coin. For those, you don't need to do anything other than rinses.

 

Incorrect. With MS70, the swab lets you apply safely to bi-metallic coinage or coinage with enamel or applications where only part of the coin is treatable. The swab lets you apply safely to treat haze without impacting the other side of the coin, or other areas on the coin with light desirable toning. It also lets you spot treat a small area on the coin without unnecessary treatments to other areas in general. In the case of VerdiCare or mineral oil, they can't really be used as dips to begin wwith, however, MS70 is not intended to be used as a dip either.