Got swamped today with what to do with some old coins. Who here knows what to do to reduce damage with coins stuck together?
Universal solvent Would distilled water be a good place to start? Guess it depends what they are stuck together With?
ALWAYS start with distilled water before using solvents! Acetone would be my next choice, then isopropanol and, if that fails, xylene. Doing them in that order covers a complete range of polarities and will increase your odds of success.
Start with a Butane torch to loosen the stuff used to stick them together. Just kidding of course. As already noted try the safest, cheapest, easiest methods first. Distilled water.
Posts like this always remind me of when I purchased a 1921S Lincoln Cent in a 2x2 and was graded as MS-65. Fantastic looking coin. I wanted to put it in my Album so I used a screwdriver to pry open the staples holding the 2x2 together. Naturally the screwdriver slipped and ran accross the face of Lincoln. Bad things just happen.
Water worked http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=330345885540 In case anyone cares, the water finally allowed the three coins to seperate. Here's the results!
Percentage left Would be... Let's see. After the eBay cut, plus the cost of butane....plus the paypal cut, plus the listing fee to eBay (with the X-tra Bonus Photo pac to show both sides of three coins) Times the number of helpful hints, plus the cost of distilled water deducted from the .99 dollar current bid.....then the $1.50 for the mailer and another 98 cents for postage equals.......naw.....It's ok. You folks don't own me a thing.:hug:
