This "one sided" Ike Bicent. has the obv looking like it was ground down or eaten away. It is mostly flat but initials and moon's craters still show, looks like hard scraping and some scratch marks going in all directions. Reverse is completely blank and smooth as a baby's ___, but there are 2 spots which look like delamination ( hard to see in photo ). The edge is completely intact and very well defined - just as good as a normal, high grade Ike. The rev also has the usual ( ? ) silver toning, but also has "Green Slime". How can I remove the green while not disturbing the patina? This a "test" coin. I ask because I have 2-3 other silver coins that were stored in PVC flips for over 30 years and all have Green on them - - fairly minor… but… I had no idea back then. Thanks, Mike
The green slime is easy, soak the coin in pure acetone (NOT fingernail polish remover), then dip again in clean acetone at least twice, and that will go away. As to what happened to it, can't tell based on the pics. You say it looks ground down, can you see grinding marks or are you just using that as a description ? Possibilities are it was ground down, possible acid bath, and possible test strike. No way to say without better pics, hopefully after the coin has had the green stuff removed.
GDJMSP, Thanks for the quick reply , I will soak ( how long or is it depending on severity? ), then dip in clean twice, like you said. Will the natural silver toning be affected also? I will then post new pics.
If you upload anything more than 250kb, it will be drastically reduced. Adjust your images to be just under 250kb, and then upload.
I'll be OK... maybe Thanks Swendi, Honest, I have been known to read before and to understand it. :smile I just didn't think the uploader would reduce it that much. Anyway, I reloaded the 2 shots - larger now, but still have not cleaned the coin yet. Still working to get consistent closeup shots that show the coin's strangeness ( to me at least ). Mike
Yes, the length of time depends on severity. Give it say an hour the first go round. If that doesn't work, try it overnight. Based on your new pics I'd guess somebody took a grinder to that coin.
DEFINITLY ground smooth. Why, I cannot tell you, but you can clearly see that it was sanded down. All in one direction, no less! I would not be surprised if somebody held it on a belt sander. It is possible the intent was to make a modern day "Love token" but that is purely speculation on my part.
