Verdigris removal from a Large Cent
PipestonePete
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Would an acetone-soaked Q-Tip have any effect on the verdigris encrusted areas of this Large Cent? Are there any safe options for removal of this type of contaminant?
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A long soak in mineral oil may help soften that crust. A rose thorn or a toothpick may then be used to scrape off some of that crust. Unfortunately this coin will never straight grade.
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Never say never but yes an oil soak and rolling a q-tip over it should work just fine
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it appears as though the verdigris has taken a large chunk outta the coin's surface, once you blow up the pic.
Use mineral oil. Acetone won't help. And you may not like what the surface under that verdigris looks like (expect pitting)
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Olive oil is good also, but takes a long time.
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I agree with PerryHall (and others), regarding mineral oil and a thorn.
I have some of the original Blue Ribbon also, if you want to send it to me to try.
Unless it’s an N-19 (which I doubt, but can’t verify from just the obverse), it’s a lower grade common large cent, inexpensive, but perhaps it has sentimental value to you.
Best of luck
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Agree, soak it in oil for a few months. I've used olive oil in the past. Have not had a chance to try mineral oil.
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I have had good results with Verdicare/Verdigone. It's no longer available but I have some and would give it a try, if you like.
Ordinarily, old verdigris on copper can be very stubborn. From what I see it doesn't look very old so there may be hope. The coin is not terribly valuable so maybe there's not much risked.
Lance.
Thank you, everyone, for the comments and suggestions. I realize that the coin is of little value but thought it might improve the appearance by removing/reducing the amount of verdigris that is visible. How much time would you suggest this needs to soak in mineral oil? Should the mineral oil be refreshed from time to time during the soak?
I have used mineral oil on verdigris... The time required depends on the extent of the verdigris, so hard to say. I had one that took six weeks to work well. Cheers, RickO
Is there any visible tells that the mineral oil is working? Does the verdigris appear to be breaking up?
I'd give it a couple of months and then probe the crust with a rose thorn or toothpick to see if it can be removed.
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"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
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Hydrogen peroxide will (may) react with the verdigris. Nothing to lose on that particular coin.
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