Experimenting with MS70 and copper

A forum member asked me to do a little test with MS70 and copper. So I did.

I chose four coins. A full red, a RB with common toning, another RB with dark tone, and a full BN. Each coin was swabbed with MS70, and then the solution was removed after a several seconds, using a Qtip. All coins were rinsed in water and air dried before reimaging. Before and after results follow. The image colors are correct.


The 1920 had the common look of a RB Lincoln with a mix of toned brown and original mint red. It had a very noticeable change with striking beet red, purple and blue.


The RD 1940-D lost its pumpkin orange color. In hand it looks pretty much like an ordinary red cent, though with a loupe and in these images you can see pale blue spots.


I didn't take a hard look at the darkly toned 1930 before I chose it. After seeing the results I believe the toning it had was organic and probably would have dipped off in acetone. I used several swabs to clean it up. Not sure there's much to conclude about this one.


After applying MS70 to the brown 1952 it appeared to have much more blue than the images suggest, but a subtle, powdery blue, not electric like the 1920. I propped it on a paper clip to get a little angle and shot two more pix. Didn't make a big difference.


A fun morning experiment. Maybe I'll do something similar with acetone, eZest, Blue Ribbon, CoinCare and Verdigone.


Just my two cents...well, four.
Lance.










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Thanks for doing this Lance.
I remember the coin that made me ask of it.



BTW: The coin still resides in my folder of Lincoln Cents. The only problem/AT'd Coin in there. I mainly asked of this because there was no before image, and I came up to this thread and realized there was no before picture.

Thanks again!

 

Lance,

Keep trying, I wanna see some blue ones!

 

The 20 looks like a few matte proofs I've seen here and there....

 

Great thread, I've read lots of 1909-s vdb got dipped, but don't know how it was done.

 

Kazkaboom's is pretty blue. I neglected to shoot a picture before MS70'ing it.
Lance.

 

No! Please do not use MS70, I beg!

 

I'll take the 1920.

 

Why? Have you ever seen what happens to a proof IHC? AT or not, they are freaking awesome!

 

Let's send them in to the TPGs and see how they fare. Although I'd say the 1930 wouldn't fly (or just needs more work) the others still have a shot. Maybe the other chemicals are better at taking a RB coin that is just turning and bring it back to a full RD status without any telltale signs.

 

No worries. Sometimes it's important to learn about these treatments so you know how to spot them. I would never mess with a valuable coin.
Lance.

 

Very true. In this case I do not think it helped any of them.

 

I'm on a similar mission. I've ordered an AT electroplated Kennedy to see it in hand. I've also got some MS70 on order - gonna dip some forty-percenters that I found in rolls to see what they look like.

 

I have seen what this stuff can do. I am just glad Lance clarified this is not to be used on valuable coins.

If you want to mess with AT, then this is the product for you.

 

Given the choice, I would buy an AT MS70'd proof IHC over an original proof IHC any day of the week. Of course, we would have to get it graded first, which would be very difficult.

 

Honestly, I don't like the stuff.

There's a place for a coin dip like eZest (nee Jewelluster). In the right hands, and for the right application, it has a use.

Blue Ribbon is useful on old raw coins, as a conserving agent. PCGS's Sniffer objects to it because it can be used to temporarily improve the look of a coin submitted for grading.

VerdiCare does a pretty good job at arresting early verdigris. Better to treat it than let it corrode.

I don't think CoinCare is good for much.

Acetone is benign, and great at removing PVC and organic crud. But it will remove even the natural oils that build up on circulated coins and leave some looking very dried-out.

Xylene is a thinner like acetone and many collectors of old copper use it to remove decades-old grime.

But MS70 is evil, I think. JMO. I know others have different opinions. (Where's Doug when you need him?)
Lance.

 

I would take the original. Just a difference of opinion.

 

Evil?? why? I dont know anyone who has done it on copper, so I dont want ot comment on that, and always heard copper will never look right with any type of dip/cleaner/conditioner. But have seen it done on both clad and silver halves and also nickels. All of those looked rather nice, as compared to coins ive seen that have been dipped say in a eZest although I'm far from a expert....

 

I agree they are awesome looking, and thankfully there's enough of them already slabbed though.