***NEW UPDATE IN FIRST POST 9-23 NOW SLABBED*** Lacquered Coin
MWallace
Posts: 3,866 ✭✭✭✭✭
I have a coin that I'm "almost" positive is covered in lacquer. Will acetone remove it? It is a 1940 broadstruck Cent that is a beautiful red coin. Looks like it was minted yesterday.
Lines in front of Lincolns forehead under "RUST" and what appears to be small bubbles to the right of the last "T" in TRUST.
Lines in front field all of the way down to the date and behind Lincoln's head that aren't as prominent as the ones in the photo above and don't show as well in this photo.
Another shot. I also took one of the reverse but it doesn't appear to be lacquered.
UPDATE 7/13/22
Whatever was on the coin disappeared immediately when I placed it in acetone. Thank you all for your help.
This photo is not a true representative of the nice red color.
On the way back home (9/23/22).
Comments
Denatured alcohol or lacquer thinner. Not sure what it will do to the surface of the coin though. I bet the lacquer has been protecting that coin.
EDIT: I believe paint stripper would remove it as well.
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
Thank you @OAKSTAR
I don't want to do anything that might do any damage to the coin. I'd rather leave it as is than risk any damage.
Go with the acetone. You can soak it over night.
WS
A lacquered coin will sometimes have a glossy surface, with the lustrous metal underneath. You will likely also see bubbles or the dried outlines of the former liquid.
Most lacquer should be easily removed with your standard acetone or other liquid solvents.
Is it possible to take and post before and after pics? This could be very educational for the forum.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
Pictures should dictate the responses. Can't get an accurate response without accurate pics Obverse and Reverse. Otherwise it is just speculation and crap info
EDIT: Oh, guess I forgot to add "PLEASE ADD PICS!" (Sorry if this is yelling as long as it gets the point across)
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
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good thinking and we may be able to offer better advice with pics.
Acetone or lacquer thinner should do the trick.
Do not use paint stripper, it's hard to get all the residue off and can react with some metals.
Brake fluid is also a very effective paint remover but I have never tried it on coins.
That's exactly what makes me think it's lacquered. It has a glossy surface and in the obverse fields there are several raised lines that look like "waves" for lack of a better question.
I will do that.
I will get the best pics I can.
@OAKSTAR @WaterSport @GoldenEgg @PerryHall @Steven59 @LanceNewmanOCC
@ifthevamzarockin
Photos added.
Not yet....
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Interesting. I would have not immediately guessed it was lacquered - it looks so clear.
Refresh the page. They're there.
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hey thanks. it is nice to be on the safe side to see if we are dealing with a $4k coin or a $400 coin or a $4 coin. because as hypocritical or whatever as it may sound, advice for each level of a coin in those price ranges, ESPECIALLY a RD coin, the advice/steps/protocol/order etc will change a bit.
now since we have a RD specimen and i've yet to see someone legitimately and confidently refute the thing i read (i've mentioned it recently) here about acetone and/or other similar compounds having long-term negative effects on said coin color. i don't recall the thread and it would probably be a nightmare to find but i've read it and the context as i recall was RD large cents (copper).
the good thing is the substance on the coin here isn't going anywhere so you can take your time and do it right and have a nice error on the other side of all of this.
i will say as others have iterated, pure acetone and distilled water. (same price as regular)
anyone try that reverse osmosis water i heard about at krogers a long time ago? only certain stores stocked the machine/water.
Nope not working - Oh well, probably something wrong on my end.
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
I'll PM them to you.
sometimes you can quote a post to see links not otherwise visible.
https://us.v-cdn.net/6027503/uploads/editor/iw/em7ovkxx1ngx.jpg
Do you think I should leave it in acetone overnight as suggested?
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for my part, i can't say about an overnight. i've only ever dipped coins. i'm not saying for my part to go ahead but i personally would dip it a few times just to see how it reacts. maybe not take as long as one thinks or could require an multi-hour bath.
i'm responding but i'd defer to others with more experience to be on the safe side.
there's also a myriad of thread in the archive if one is feeling so inclined but it is probably a rather intensive search with MANY threads and we can't sort them by date. best one can do is search 12 months out, all other searches appear to be random. i'd love someone to prove me wrong with the filters. PLEASE!
Looks lacquered from the pictures. I would put it in acetone and cover the container ... change out with fresh acetone every hour, maybe three times, and then rinse with fresh acetone. That should take all the lacquer off. Air dry and get it in a flip or capsule.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
Acetone is not scary. I've left coins in it for weeks.
For best results you have to refresh it often, especially with something thick like lacquer. Take your time.
Lance.
Pure acetone will not react with the copper coin. It is powerful but whatever coating is to be dissolved shall happen slowly. You're not gonna swirl the coin around, it's just gonna sit there. Flip it over with plastic tongs after a few hours. You might even see the coating sloughing off if you're patient. Good luck. Peace Roy
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Pure acetone is the best method. It will not harm the metal, it will remove lacquer. It will take a few baths, and it can be left (in a covered, glass container) for as long as it takes. Change the acetone every few hours... agitate the liquid prior to change. When done, give it an alcohol bath, followed by hot water. Cheers, RickO
Thanks to everyone for the help.
Years ago I was able to remove a lacquer like substance from a coin by dipping the coin in a cup of boiling hot water (I used distilled water). The heat caused the coin to expand at a different rate than the substance on it which caused the substance to flake off. I would test it on another red copper coin to be sure it would not discolor the coin, since I recall I did this on an old dime. Another thought would be to use distilled water in a sonic cleaner.
My only recommendation for lacquered coins is to go slow and be patient. I had a few large Cents that I assumed were lacquered... acetone made the substance a bit more gooey... so I'm now not 100% sure it was lacquer. Glue perhaps? In any case, I wish you the best, and would love to see the end results.
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Thank you. I will certainly post the end results.
Please use acetone before dip.
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are you referring to dipping red copper?
I guess I should have said use acetone instead of dipping.
@PerryHall
Update in first post
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glad it worked out as that is a nice broadstruck wheatie!
Good job!
Looks much better now.
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TTT for update in first post. 9/23/22
Nice result.
Professional Numismatist. "It's like God, Family, Country, except Sticker, Plastic, Coin."
nice
why do they call it broadstruck "on blank."
what else would it be struck on? it isn't like broadstrucks are normally struck over something else. just curious.
this is a pretty impressive type coin to use because it is red copper that has been encased in some compound to be removed successfully and still straight-grade. of course the long-term question is, will it last.
now i'm wondering about the lucite/acryllic etc coins if they are red copper.
we've had people post about removing coins from them but never really any grading follow-through results. probably a few but rare they are valuable enough to do so.
A blank hasn't been through the upsetting mill to create the raised edge. A blank vs a planchet. Planchets are what blanks become after the upsetting mill.
Professional Numismatist. "It's like God, Family, Country, except Sticker, Plastic, Coin."
@LanceNewmanOCC
What @DelawareDoons said.
@MWallace.... Nice results.... Thanks for the update. Cheers, RickO
Nice results.
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Great results and a great coin Mike!! Glad to see this worked out all the way through.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
Congrats... well played
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