QEII Great Britain 1953 Mint Set

I am liking that 1/2 Penny! Just noticed a die scratch/crack on the obverse!

 

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Minus the Farthing the other two show signs of a greenish undertone, I have never had any luck with acetone and Canadian copper though, what's the other one Xylene?

 

Xylene, yes. But also Verdi care for the green might be in order. Retook the coppers after about an hour soak. Seems to have helped.

 

I've had fairly good luck restoring the '53 GB sets. About 90% of the cu/ni and 50% of the coppers come out well.

It's hard to believe there are many of these left.

 

Im not sure if its the image or that the copper look like weak strikes compared to the NC coins.
One would believe that it be the reverse... that the NC coins would be a weak strike. Never the less a nice set of coins.

 

I think I have read somewhere that these mint sets did not strike up and they reworked the dies before going into production for the general circulation in 1953. I don't know if that is true but is a possibility of a variety if they did indeed re work the master dies or working hubs to strengthen the design elements, especially the portrait of young QEII. Additional research definitely.

 

I encourage you to do that. Water helps, but there could still be some organic residue that's invisible to the naked eye. Acetone will take care of that, and it poses no risk to the coins because acetone won't react with the metal.

 

Yes, xylene and Verdicare for the bronze coins.

 

So Numista is a big help. There are 2 varieties on the 1953 coins (4 on the farthings) based on 2 obverses with Obverse 2 having a "clearer portrait" and bead count and other markers. The coins in the plastic sets are all obverse 1, with obverse 2 on the circulation coins.

Here is the half crown after acetone. Pretty much did the trick. A slight bit of hazing around some of the legend. Interestingly you can see some areas where the fields were struck well and where some planchet chatter still remains.

 

The one Shilling coins after acetone soak. Still a slight bit of haze but much improved.

 

Ammonia, with no colouring in 1:1 dilution with water will many times help out on copper nickel and have used this with quite valuable proofs before - NOT on the copper bits though!

 

Nice conservation work, Razz!

 

Here is the 1/2 penny and farthing after the acetone soak. A lot of luster restored, back into a fresh 2x2.

 

Finally the One Penny after acetone soak, pictures and back in a fresh 2x2. All these coins had PVC schmutz on them that appears as a white film. I let the left over acetone dry in the glass bowl on an earlier round of the 3 rinses and the white film was left in the bowl after the acetone evaporated. The film had a green tint when wiped with a tissue.

 

I also like 100% isopropanol - it's easier on the nose, cheap and very effective. Just be sure it's 100%, the ACS certified type is among the best. It's also very good at dehydration - an important conservation step.

 

Nice topic @Razz

After your first post I was thinking of taking pics of my shillings, 1 with the English Crest, 1 with the Scottish Crest. But I see you did that your self!!!