Removing smoke smells on coins

I am looking for advice on removing strong smells from coins.

I’ve recently received a package of coins that spent a number of years in a smoker’s home. Beyond the smell, I’m worried about potential damage to the coins.

The bulk of the coins are wheat cents, while I have a handful or two of 1939-1953 nickels. There is a small number of wheat cents that I intend to keep, and the rest I will likely sell. I don’t want to ruin them trying to fix them.

I am considering just soaking them in water in hopes whatever is on the coins comes off. I would soak them in acetone, but worry about the cents getting a pinkish tone.

What suggestions or experiences do you have with the coins from a smoker’s home?

@GDJMSP @desertgem @7Jags @Insider I am tagging you because I believe you folks have the most experience/expertise cleaning coins.

 

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I would just pour them out on a bath towel and let them air out for a few days.
Acetone would be a waist of time and money but it won't harm the coins.

 

PCGS/NGC 'sniffer'............

 

Try entombing them in Acrylic

 

My reading/understanding of nicotine tar suggests that airing them out will not resolve the issue, as the particles will remain on the coins. These sat in a smoking environment for years, not days…

I do happen to have a bunch of extra acrylic

 

Soak in water. Acetone is overkill IMO. Also, it won't react with the surfaces and turn them pink

 

It won’t hurt anything to try soaking them in water or water with liquid dish detergent, like Dawn first. You may have to change the water a few times but if that doesn’t work there are alternatives.

 

I purchased a walking half set a while back that had belonged to a smoker. It was rather pungent when I opened the package. A few days opened up in the fresh air and the aroma was gone…… On the other hand, I have a guitar that I played for nine years on the nightclub circuit back in the 1980’s when the nightclubs were thick with smoke. To this day I can open that old case and still smell the nightclubs.

 

It's likely the container (bag/can/guitar case) that is the most tainted. Water bath, dry in open air, and put them into a new container.

 

Water+copper is a recipe for disaster. But acetone won’t alter the color or anything.

 

Yes, I agree with the above. However, my suggestion besides ditching the bag(s) they came in is to soak for about an hour in regular rubbing alcohol and then spread them out to dry if you live in a dry climate.

 

With that pile of coins, you have the luxury of picking out a few common dates and experimenting!

 

I would not hesitate using fresh acetone from the can. It's main worry is ignition if done in an enclosed room/garage as it is extremely flammable ( pilot lights beware).We all have acetone in our systems ( The human body naturally produces small amounts of acetone during the breakdown of fat and it may be present in the diet as it occurs naturally in several fruits and vegetables)
so there should be no problem as long as no open flame. IMO Jim

 

Yes, but rubbing alcohol is cheaper and would get rid of most of the grunge and funk. I would tamp dry with a high nap white towel if OP is interested.

 

Can you elaborate on that?

 

Water/moisture are bad for coins and can eat away at metals like copper and silver. It’s why you see so many green, corroded coins out there… they came into contact with moisture. Acetone, however, does not harm copper or silver, and in fact, evaporates quickly off the coin, while also removing dirt and basically neutralizing the surfaces.

 

no

 

I agree. Water will also leave deposits of other stuff on coins. Those deposits can grow into spots in the future. I would skip the water and go straight to acetone. If a person just has to use water, they should follow with acetone.

 

Acetone won't hurt the coins, but it will remove the smoke and nicotine a lot more effectively than just water.