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Ever been excited to receive a coin or medal you bought on line, and then disappointed by the smell?

TomthecoinguyTomthecoinguy Posts: 849 ✭✭✭✭
edited July 17, 2020 3:29PM in U.S. Coin Forum

I bought a medal on ebay from a series I collect. I was really excited about it because it was a rare type (105 made) and I never thought an example would become privately available in my lifetime. It was scheduled to arrive today, and I was anxiously awaiting the mailman. Tonight I was expecting to spend some time just enjoying the medal. But when it came it just reeked of smoke. Well it is now in a bag with some baking soda, maybe I can enjoy it in a month or so. I have also had this problem with other coins from musty basements.

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Comments

  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,244 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Try wrapping it in a fabric softener sheet.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • TomthecoinguyTomthecoinguy Posts: 849 ✭✭✭✭

    @jmlanzaf said:
    Why not rinse in acetone? The smell must be from surface contaminants

    I should have added, it also comes in it's original presentation box, that has felt. I think a lot of the smell is coming from that.

    Join the fight against Minnesota's unjust coin dealer tax law.

  • keyman64keyman64 Posts: 15,507 ✭✭✭✭✭

    This has happened to me once before. I opened up the package and UGGGGH! When I have been selling stuff, I have even thought about advertising myself as a non-smoker so you don't have to worry about stuff like this.

    "If it's not fun, it's not worth it." - KeyMan64
    Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners. :smile:
  • MilesWaitsMilesWaits Posts: 5,372 ✭✭✭✭✭

    What are the odds? Real question. What percentage of our brethren indulge in tobacco?

    Now riding the swell in PM's and surf.
  • WildIdeaWildIdea Posts: 1,877 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 17, 2020 4:00PM

    Occupational hazards

    I’ve seen listings advertised as non smoking home on eBay before, I think it just comes with the territory though.

  • U1chicagoU1chicago Posts: 6,104 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It happened to me with a used Dansco Album (with some Peace Dollars in it).
    This is one of the less known benefits of slabs. Even if it came from an environment with smoking, it is much easier to clean. :)

  • messydeskmessydesk Posts: 20,010 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Every once in a while I get a submission sent to me that is sufficiently pungent for me to make sure that every bit of packing material gets reused for return shipping.

    John
    Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,244 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Tomthecoinguy ---Can we see a pic of the medal and case? You really got my curiosity up.
    When you leave feedback, write "The medal that you sent me really stinks." ;)

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • JBKJBK Posts: 15,691 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I have opened a package or two and gotten a whiff of cigarettes. I then wonder what the seller's house smells like. :s

  • ms70ms70 Posts: 13,954 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 17, 2020 5:33PM

    Until today I could never imagine receiving an item and then telling the seller I want to keep it but give me some money back...... But in this case I absolutely would. That is so blatantly unacceptable and infuriating especially since it affected the collectible presentation case.

    And I'd definitely do the acetone rinse. I have no idea how cigarette smoke could affect the coin's surface but I wouldn't want to find out 2 years from now.

    Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.

  • JimnightJimnight Posts: 10,846 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Good luck getting rid of the smell.

  • TomthecoinguyTomthecoinguy Posts: 849 ✭✭✭✭

    @PerryHall said:
    @Tomthecoinguy ---Can we see a pic of the medal and case? You really got my curiosity up.
    When you leave feedback, write "The medal that you sent me really stinks." ;)

    That's a good one.

    I sent you a PM with a link to the auction.

    I don't really want to call the person out publicly but if anyone wants to know what it is, just PM me.

    Join the fight against Minnesota's unjust coin dealer tax law.

  • 1630Boston1630Boston Posts: 13,787 ✭✭✭✭✭

    No

    Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb

    Bad transactions with : nobody to date

  • COINS MAKE CENTSCOINS MAKE CENTS Posts: 1,829 ✭✭✭✭✭

    That sweet "musty wet basement" smell yummy........ not

    New inventory added daily at Coins Make Cents
    HAPPY COLLECTING


  • ms70ms70 Posts: 13,954 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @COINS MAKE CENTS said:
    That sweet "musty wet basement" smell yummy........ not

    And in a few months black mold on the surface. :#

    Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.

  • AUandAGAUandAG Posts: 24,785 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Pure Acetone

    bob :)

    Registry: CC lowballs (boblindstrom), bobinvegas1989@yahoo.com
  • jdimmickjdimmick Posts: 9,692 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Not coins, but one time I had a couple come in the shop that reaked of BO.(i mean horribly bad) In the group of stuff was a large size coin design drink coaster. I kept smelling something long after they left, and found out that the drink coaster smelled just like they did. Ended up having to thoroughly wash it with soap and water.

  • TreynokTreynok Posts: 28 ✭
    edited July 17, 2020 9:57PM

    I ran into this a few times buying junk silver, as you can imagine the packing isn't always the best since it is usually coins people have laying and they pack in whatever they have. Got a bunch like a week ago that smelled like they were poo'ed on, ended up being the plastic grocery bags they were wrapped in. Still aired them out for a few days

    I don't smoke but my parents did. They never realized how bad their home smelled until they quit. I keep reusable moisture absorbers (when they turn red microwave them on low wattage for 5 minutes and they dry out again/sanitize and turn back to blue) around my collection and keep the felt boxes in ziploc bags, usually do layers of protection against mildew etc. Probably overkill but I want to keep my collection 'fresh' lol

    Edit - also buying junk silver lots is very exciting for me, It is the one package I have trouble being patient waiting for it to arrive lol.

  • HashTagHashTag Posts: 374 ✭✭✭✭

    I have four from Benin that are scratch n’ sniff. Should be receiving them back anyday.

    https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/collectors-showcase/date-sets/hashtags-prefect-coin-grading-service-1879/album/7621

  • Namvet69Namvet69 Posts: 9,018 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Nothing beats the bouquet of a manure spreader in a field on a humid summer day. Jersey sweet corn is in season and it is delicious. Peace Roy

    BST: endeavor1967, synchr, kliao, Outhaul, Donttellthewife, U1Chicago, ajaan, mCarney1173, SurfinHi, MWallace, Sandman70gt, mustanggt, Pittstate03, Lazybones, Walkerguy21D, coinandcurrency242 , thebigeng, Collectorcoins, JimTyler, USMarine6, Elkevvo, Coll3ctor, Yorkshireman, CUKevin, ranshdow, CoinHunter4, bennybravo, Centsearcher, braddick, Windycity, ZoidMeister, mirabela, JJM, RichURich, Bullsitter, jmski52, LukeMarshall, coinsarefun, MichaelDixon, NickPatton, ProfLiz, Twobitcollector,Jesbroken oih82w8, DCW

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Not an issue I have encountered. If I did, the coin would definitely get an acetone soak and the case (if it had one) would get sprayed with Fabreze fabric refresher....Cheers, RickO

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